Ariel Balani, the official of the Department of Urban Planning of Saranda Municipality was arrested on Thursday evening, by order of the Special Prosecutor's Office (SPAK).

Special Prosecution released official information this Friday regarding the arrest, where it is announced that Balani has committed the criminal offense of "Exercising illegal influence on persons exercising public functions", provided by article 245/1, fourth paragraph of the Criminal Code.

Balani exerted illegal influence on the National Coastal Agency, in 2021, to issue permission to use the beach to two people who had built an object.

The official had asked for 12,000 euros and initially received 6,000 euros.

But he returned the money, as the agreement was not fulfilled.

Meanwhile, an IKMT inspector in Saranda, identified as citizen J.P, in March 2020, asked one of the two people who would make the agreement with Balan, the sum of 7,500 euros, in order not to destroy the object that he had built on Ksamil beach.

The inspector received 3000 euros and the building was demolished in 2021.

For the inspector, the Special Court set the security measure "Arrest in prison", after having consumed the criminal offense "Passive corruption of persons exercising public functions", provided by article 259 of the Criminal Code.