New photo challenges key witness in Erion Veliaj villa case

A new photo could shake up the corruption case against arrested Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj—showing his late father-in-law, Arben Xoxa, in the very villa at the center of the scandal.

Just a week after Veliaj was arrested, an exclusive image, obtained by Shqiptarja.com, adds a fresh twist to the case.

It shows Arben Xoxa, father of Veliaj’s wife, relaxing at the luxury Qerret villa back in 2018—years before allegations surfaced. Sitting across from him? Ganimet Vendresha, his mother-in-law, and a former prima ballerina at Albania’s National Opera.

So, was Xoxa at home? Or was he just a guest in a property secretly owned by his son-in-law?

SPAK vs. Veliaj: Who really owned the villa?

Veliaj, arrested last week on corruption charges, is accused of hiding his ownership of the villa by registering it under Xoxa’s name.

Prosecutors claim the late Xoxa was just a front. Veliaj insists otherwise—arguing that Xoxa acquired the villa through a real estate swap, trading an apartment in the same "Marea" resort.

Now, this photo throws shade on key testimony—a former driver had told investigators that Xoxa never set foot in the villa. Turns out, the driver had only worked for him four months. Reliable? Questionable.