By Boldnews.al
The Tirana Prosecution has questioned 302 prison employees in the capital and the Kruja Prison regarding the entry into these IMSI Catcher surveillance equipment institutions. From the evidence received from prison staff, new details have been learned about the object of the investigation.
The Task Force Unit in the capital’s Prosecutor’s Office since the beginning of May is conducting investigations into misappropriation of the illegal entry of the IMSI Catcher tapping device and the possibility of its use within the territory of Albania.
Following the investigation, the prosecution has received information about the introduction of the device in several prisons, including 302 in Tirana and Fushë-Krujë prison. After determining the dates when the entrance of the machine where the “IMSI Catcher” device was installed, the Prosecution has verified the documents for the personnel who were at work at this time at the entrance of the prisons. These employees were questioned by the Prosecution and provided important details about the event.
EMPLOYEES ‘WITNESSES
In evidence given to prosecutors, prison staff 302 and Kruja said that the car with “IMSI Catcher” device requested to enter these institutions in all cases in late evening hours.
“The car came after 22:30 and in all cases was directed by the person who was introduced by the name EntiolXhelilaj”, witnesses said. According to them, in the car there were also two other people who did not speak.
Some of the prison staff have claimed that the back of the cabin have seen “a similar device to a laptop with slightly larger black size”. In the prison entry books, already seized by the Prosecutor’s Office, the vehicle license plates are marked, the name of EntiolXhelilaj, the Operational Force and the purpose of the entry “for the measurement of air quality”.
In all cases, prison staff said that persons who entered the device had no written orders or authorizations, even debated with them, and in the end were allowed by phone orders.
INVESTIGATIONS
Three officials and employees of the State Police are under investigation by the Prosecution for “abuse of office” with the introduction of the illegal use of surveillance equipment in Albania. The Prosecution has found data on the introduction of the device in Peqin Prison, “Mine Peza” prison (otherwise known as Prison 302) in Tirana and Fushë-Kruja Prison.
Investigations are ongoing by the Prosecutor’s Office, which is awaiting a response to a letter of confiscation sent to Italy. Lettering to the Italian side after the device brought to Albania by the “Interforce” mission was not seized because the day of issuance of the IMSICatcher vehicle order was taken out of the police building and sent to the offices of “Interforce”. / Panorama /