Ex-president seeks witnesses in corruption trial

Former Albanian president Ilir Meta has asked a special court to summon 11 witnesses in his corruption trial.

Meta and his former wife, Monika Kryemadhi, are being tried at Albania’s Special Court against Corruption and Organised Crime.

Meta’s lawyer asked the court to call witnesses linked to changes made to Albania’s mining law.

The proposed witnesses include Prime Minister Edi Rama and several former senior officials.

Special prosecutors say the law was changed to favour one businessman and that Meta later benefited from a villa in the Rolling Hills area near Tirana.

Meta rejected the allegation and said he had never discussed the law with any businessman.

He also asked the court to call an independent mining expert to show how many companies benefited from the legal change.

Meta said he had never lived in the villa.