Aurel Zarka, the former head of the prosecution office in Vlora who was convicted on corruption charges, has been released from prison nearly a year before completing his sentence.

The decision was issued by judge Florjan Kalaja, who approved a request presented by Zarka’s defense and supported by the prosecution after reviewing arguments from both sides during the court hearing.

Zarka had been serving a sentence of two years and eight months after being placed under the security measure of “arrest in prison” in May 2025. Authorities confirmed on Friday that the former prosecutor has now regained his freedom.

In a ruling delivered on May 20, 2025, the Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime found Zarka guilty of corruption and unlawful influence in criminal proceedings linked to the so-called “Toyota Auris” case, as well as in other investigations handled by the prosecution office he once led.

The judicial panel, composed of judges Erjon Çela, Bib Ndreca and Rudina Palloj, initially sentenced Zarka to four years in prison. Under Albania’s shortened trial procedure, the sentence was reduced to two years and eight months.

According to the court ruling, Zarka was convicted on two counts of active and passive corruption and three counts related to unlawful influence peddling.

At the time, prosecutor Klodian Braho had requested a sentence of four years and six months in prison, which under a shortened trial would have resulted in a final sentence of three years imprisonment.