Robert Duka arrested for robbing two banks to pay casino debts
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A former bank employee with a prior conviction in Greece is back in custody after allegedly taking 120,000 euros from two Tirana branches. Robert Duka told investigators he lost the bulk of the haul at a casino and gave another 6,000 euros to friends. His wife insists the cash found at their home represents family savings, not the proceeds of a heist.
The judiciary is currently a thicket of mutual suspicion. SPAK, the anti-corruption body, is pursuing the former head of the intelligence service, Vlora Hyseni, and the former defense minister, Fatmir Mediu. Meanwhile, reports of a parallel state have emerged, with allegations that the police are bugging the prosecutors who are busy bugging the judges.
The media regulator is facing criticism after fining several political talk shows, a move seen by many as a tidy way to discourage dissent. On the streets, the transport sector is warning of higher ticket prices unless the government agrees to a lower VAT rate of 6%.