The Acting Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning, Fitore Pacolli, has raised suspicions of misuse of millions of euros of public money in expropriation processes in two cases in the municipality of Ferizaj.
Pacolli said the first case is in the cadastral zone of the village of Bibaj, where the expropriation of cadastral parcel 700-9 was carried out in two phases. Initially, the valuation was set at 32 euros per square meter, while after a ruling by the Basic Court in Ferizaj, the new value was set at 90 euros.
“In the first case, the following key findings emerge: First, the expropriation of cadastral parcel 700-9 was carried out in two phases, specifically over areas of 5,450 square meters and 2,867 square meters, with an initial valuation of 32 euros per square meter determined by the competent property valuation body within the Ministry of Finance. This valuation was accepted by the owner in the first phase without filing an appeal. Second, in the additional expropriation of 2,867 square meters, although the initial valuation was 32 euros per square meter, the Basic Court in Ferizaj, by decision dated 21.09.2023, set a new value of 90 euros per square meter, creating a difference of 58 euros per square meter. This increase represents a threefold rise compared to the initial value and does not reflect harmonization with the valuation of surrounding parcels, which according to official acts range from 15 euros per square meter to 33 euros per square meter,” Pacolli said.
She further stated that the Basic Court in Ferizaj also recognized the right to compensation for lost value of the remaining portion of the property of 5,347 square meters, applying rates of up to 90 percent loss in different segments. However, according to her, field verification shows that the property in question has not lost value; on the contrary, it has benefited from infrastructural development.
According to Pacolli, the increase in value from 32 to 90 euros indicates misuse of public funds and represents a chain of violations involving institutions and courts.
Furthermore, Pacolli said the second suspicious case is in the “Fshati i Vjetër” area of Ferizaj municipality, involving a land area of 52.1 hectares.
“There are well-founded suspicions that this public property was transformed based on insufficient documentation for verification, with serious elements of suspected forgery and procedural irregularities. The transfer was supported by a judgment of the Municipal Court of Ferizaj dated 03.09.1997, as well as a decision dated 07.06.2021 issued by the Kosovo Cadastral Agency. After this property was registered in the cadastre, the parcel was included in expropriation procedures for the implementation of a project of public interest. As a result, the state is now required to pay 1.7 million euros as compensation for expropriation. We have serious reasons to suspect that in this case as well we are dealing with an organized scheme of illegal benefit at the expense of public property and the state budget,” Pacolli said, according to KosovaPress.
Pacolli said that for these reasons, they are requesting a full investigation by justice institutions and a comprehensive verification of the documentation that led to the registration and treatment of this property.
