This is an ongoing story.
On Tuesday morning, Albania's Special Court for Corruption and Organised Crime (GJKKO) has ordered Vlora Hyseni, head of the State Intelligence Service (SHISH), to be placed under house arrest pending investigation.
The court was acting on a request from the Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK).
On the same day, SPAK prosecutors searched the home of former State Police Director Ilir Proda.
Both moves appear linked to the investigation into Ergys Agasi, the suspected leader of a criminal group that operated inside the National Agency for Information Society (AKSHI), the agency that manages the government's digital infrastructure and data bases.
Intelligence chief suspected of aiding a criminal
Hyseni is suspected of assisting an offender and of disclosing classified information, journalist Klodiana Lala reported for the News24 TV channel. The house arrest has not yet been carried out because Hyseni is in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Hyseni took charge of SHISH in April 2023, becoming the first woman to lead Albania's intelligence service. She had previously spent many years in Kosovo's national security structures. She then worked for about two years as a national security adviser to Prime Minister Edi Rama.
The opposition has repeatedly accused Hyseni of wrongdoing during her time in office. Unofficial reports have recently alluded to a close relationship between her and Agasi.
Former police chief's home searched
In a separate operation that began early this morning, special prosecutors searched the home of Ilir Proda, Lala reported for News24. The former General Director of the State Police was released from his duties last March after serving 17 months in the office.
He has also been accused of having close ties to Agasi.
Lala said the operation also involves other senior officials. They have not been named because the operation is still under way. According to Lala, prosecutors appear to have found evidence against them on mobile phones seized after Agasi's arrest.
The opposition has also often accused Proda of links to organised crime.
Neither Hyseni nor Proda has been charged. Both are presumed innocent unless a court proves otherwise.
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