Faithful Lawyer R. Berisha has reacted publicly in connection with the case of 400kg of cocaine, claiming that the MC Food company, Izet Sheqiri and its workers are victims of organised crime activity. He has sharply criticised the prosecution for his handling of the case, while demanding that the Court of Appeals make a fair decision to release its defenders, the Signal newspaper reports.
Berisha’s response, published on Facebook, comes after Euronews Albania reports on SPAK investigations into an international network accused of trafficking at least 60.7 tonnes of cocaine from South America to Europe.
According to these reports, criminal organisations used commercial companies and loads of legitimate products to hide cocaine during international transport.
Referring to these developments, Berisha has stressed that they testify how legitimate businesses could end up victims of narcotics trafficking networks.
The 400kg cocaine case is the tragedy for MC Food, Izet Sheqiri and the workers of this company! Berisha wrote.
He has stressed that defence has repeatedly raised this argument during the judicial procedure.
This is exactly what the defence has repeatedly argued in the case of MC Food, Izet Sheqiri and his staff. People who, rather than being protected from organized crime, are suffering its consequences, paying for the freedom, dignity, families, and all that they have built with honest work, he has declared.
Berisha criticises the prosecution: There is no difference between the perpetrators and the victims
In his response, the lawyer has directed fierce criticism of the prosecution, claiming that in this case no necessary distinction has been made between persons responsible for organising criminal activity and those who, according to the defence, have become its victims.
For me, this case is also a serious failure by the Prosecutor to distinguish the fundamental difference between those who organise and commit crimes and those who fall victim to them, Berisha wrote.
He has demanded that the Court independently assess each individual evidence, circumstances and responsibility involved in the case.
Now is the time for the Court to make that distinction, with independence assessing each individual’s evidence, circumstances, and responsibility. And above all, to make without delay a fair decision on their release has the lawyer stressed.
Court of Appeals Decision Expected
The case of 400kg of cocaine is currently in complaining procedure, following the rejection of the first degree act of defence.
The hearing before the College of Court of Appeals has been held, while the verdict has not yet been announced.
At the conclusion of the response, Berisha has conveyed a powerful message about how, according to him, cases where legitimate businesses can be exploited by criminal organisations should be addressed.
We cannot fight organized crime by destroying the lives of those we claim to be protecting them from it.
Traffickers have to answer for their crimes. The victims should not suffer for them!
The signal where the truth speaks before the news!
Source Layer: Signal
