The murder of Chief Commissioner Artan Cuku, the Tirana Court, sentences to life imprisonment 2 perpetrators

The Tirana court has announced the ruling for the murder of Chief Commissioner Artan Cuku, sentenced to life in prison Bledar Jambellin and Kristaq Leci. According to the ruling given by Judge Gerd Hoxha, both defendants were found guilty of « Murder of State Police officers » and « Unlawful possession of weapons and ammunition ».

Investigations revealed that Bledar Jambelli, with dangerous criminal precedents and wanted for criminal events since the early 2000s, had previously been under investigation for two murders, which was arrested at a time when the Vlora Police Directorate was led by Artan Cuku. Although he was later acquitted and released, in 2017, he organized Cuku’s murder for revenge motives.

To carry out the plan, Jambelli collaborated with Kristaq Leci and Mikel Shallari, the latter author of the execution. Shallari fired at the victim with at least eight bullets, leaving him dead. He was arrested shortly after the incident and acknowledged the crime, cooperating with justice and apologizing publicly to the victim’s family. In exchange for cooperation, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

According to the Prosecution, the crime was well -planned and motivated by revenge and financial benefit.