Albania's prosecution requests mandates removal for two MPs, one mayor for criminal pasts

The Albania prosecution office said on Wednesday that it had requested the lifting of mandates of two lawmakers and the mayor of central Albanian city of Kavaja for their failure to declare criminal pasts.

The Attorneys General Office requested to suspend the functions of the two MPs, Dashamir Tahiri and Shkelqim Selami, and the mayor Elvis Rroshi.

A spokesperson with the prosecution told reporters that the request was made in line with the law "On the Integrity of Persons Elected or Nominated in Public Offices".

Albania's parliament last year passed the law banning people convicted of serious offences from appointment or election to public office

The Prosecution General says Tahiri failed to declare a sentence for money laundering in Foggia, Italy, and another for driving with forged documents in 2009.

But Tahiri explained that he was defrauded by a local waiter in the case in Italy and the offences of which he's accused are not enough to warrant him losing MP's mandate.

For Selami, prosecutors accused him of failing to declare a conviction in 1994 for being part of organized crime.

He stayed in prison for one month and was released, the Prosecution said.

Mayor of Kavaja, Elvis Rroshi, prosecutors say, he did not declare a conviction for gang rape in Italy in 1995, and neither the use of various names in Switzerland.

After the statement of the prosecution, the two MPs in question held a press conference, in which they both denied any accusation raised against them, saying that such attack was made of political reasons.

The three officials belong to the parties of the ruling coalition here. Endit