Who is Nesti Angoni? The dubious origins of SPAK’s anonymous tipster

There is an intense debate among legal experts in Albania regarding the "anonymous" tip from someone using the pseudonym Nesti Angoni in the case against Mayor Erion Veliaj. Many argue that this tip was fabricated to give SPAK (the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime) a pretext to investigate Veliaj for political or personal reasons. Some experts believe there is legal ground to charge the prosecutor for initiating an unlawful criminal case, while others call for a parliamentary investigation, citing concerns over public trust in the justice system.

A different faction claims that the prosecutor handling the case is politically aligned with Sali Berisha and is using this case to target one of Berisha’s opponents, in an attempt for SPAK to mend its strained relationship with Berisha. Notably, Berisha has recently shifted his rhetoric, going from calling SPAK a “criminal organization” to now portraying it as a “monument” he supports.

I lack the legal expertise to determine who is right in this debate. However, I believe this discussion should take place publicly, not in my inbox. What I do find highly suspicious is not only the creation of a supposed anonymous letter but, more importantly, the fact that it was treated as an official complaint.

Firstly, the letter is signed by Nesti Angoni—a person who does not actually exist according to SPAK. I published the signature on Friday. This means that someone physically appeared at SPAK on July 23, signed the letter, and submitted it. The court’s ruling on the case also states that the letter was personally delivered. Additionally, the sender even provided an address: “5 Maji Street, Building No. 71, Tirana.”

When I sent journalists to investigate this address, they found nothing. I urge other journalists—especially those who claim to be well-informed about Nesti Angoni—to verify this for themselves.

The first step SPAK should have taken was to confirm the authenticity of Nesti Angoni’s identity, signature, and address. Instead, SPAK focused on verifying that Gentian Sula is a real person employed by AgiKons, that Gentiana Sula is the director of the Authority for Information on Former State Security Documents, and that Erion Veliaj is the Mayor of Tirana, married to Ajola Xoxe, a lawyer and that all these individuals are acquainted. Only after confirming their existence did SPAK proceed with the investigation.

This so-called tip is not a sophisticated crime that is difficult to uncover. SPAK has surveillance cameras, a record of who delivered the letter, an address, and a signature. These should have been verified first, before investigating the individuals named in the letter.

Yet, despite these facts, SPAK states in its decision summary that “Nesti Angoni does not exist.” How can this be when someone physically delivered the letter and provided an address? This contradiction raises serious concerns—either Nesti Angoni is someone within SPAK itself, or SPAK launched an investigation without verifying the credibility of the informant. Either scenario is deeply troubling.

This type of case is commonly referred to as a "fishing expedition," a term used to describe an investigation launched without a clear basis, hoping to uncover something incriminating. Unfortunately, this is not the first time SPAK has engaged in such practices—it is becoming a trend. However, this instance is particularly blatant, as the case is not even SPAK’s direct initiative but one disguised under the cover of an anonymous tipster whom SPAK simultaneously claims does not exist while treating his allegations as legitimate grounds for investigation.

I will not delve into the speculation that Veliaj’s house was searched by the National Bureau of Investigation one day after Sali Berisha publicly apologized to prosecutor Olsi Dado for falsely accusing him of ties to organized crime. These claims need further examination. However, what is undeniable is that SPAK’s handling of the “Toyota Yaris” case has been deeply problematic. Despite classifying the case as a state secret, details were obviously leaked to Sali Berisha, who now reads excerpts from it daily. This means either the judge or one of the two prosecutors involved leaked the information while simultaneously threatening journalists with legal consequences for publishing it.

This incident undermines SPAK’s credibility. If these details become public, it will be clear that SPAK has tolerated prosecutors with links to criminal activities while hiding behind the guise of state secrecy. At the same time, it has legitimized an investigation based on a letter filled with lies from a non-existent person.

All of this points to a severe distortion of professional integrity within SPAK, political manipulation of information, and the misuse of judicial processes for political ends.

The justice reform in Albania was meant to prevent political interference in the judicial system. However, if the justice system itself begins interfering in politics, the separation of powers collapses, and they become competing forces. And when competitors clash, the consequences are inevitable.

The article initially appeared in Albanian titled: "Pikëpyetjet e 'verifikimit' për Nesti Angonin"