The murder of Martin Çeço, the Court of Korça issues sentences for the 4 perpetrators

The Court of Korça has issued its sentence for four defendants involved in the murder of Martin Çeço, a case that shocked the community of Kolanec village in Maliq on June 12, 2022. Martin Çeço, 47 years old, was found dead in a reservoir two days after losing contact with his family. The case triggered an extensive investigation and revealed a story of tension and complicated emotions between the accused and the victim.

The Korça Prosecutor’s Office filed charges for “Premeditated Murder” against the four individuals, who are suspected of being directly involved in the tragic event. According to the investigation, the motive for the crime was a relationship the victim had with Martina Pajollari, a woman who is believed to have lured Martin Çeço into a fatal trap.

The sentences for the accused are as follows:

• Valter Mollaj, who is suspected of having a direct role in the murder of Çeço, was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

• Edlir Mollaj, Valter’s cousin, was sentenced to 23 years in prison.

• Martina Pajollari, who is believed to have instigated the crime, was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

• Blendi Angjo, their herdsman, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Despite this court decision, the defense has announced plans to appeal the sentence. The lawyers for the accused have argued that there is insufficient evidence linking their clients to the murder of Martin Çeço. They emphasized that no concrete evidence has been presented to prove the charges, and materials from the company “Meta,” where it was suspected the victim and the accused might have had contacts, have not been secured.

The investigation has uncovered many uncertainties surrounding the event, as the exact causes that led to the murder of Çeço have not been clearly established. Some of the testimonies presented by the accused were deemed unclear, and the defense argued that they are insufficient to prove the guilt of the accused.

Regarding the victim, investigators discovered that he had a relationship with Martina Pajollari, who is believed to be one of the reasons behind his murder. The testimonies and investigations showed that there had been a tense relationship between Çeço and Pajollari, which may have influenced the decision to kill him.

However, the defense of the accused has argued that there is no proof to show that Valter and Edlir Mollaj played a direct role in the victim’s murder. They have called for further investigation and the acquisition of additional evidence that might clear their clients of any wrongdoing.

This case has raised significant concerns about safety and justice in Albania, as the murder occurred in the context of personal relationships and has highlighted the uncertainty that often exists between individuals who are closely connected.

The court’s decision marks a step towards justice for Martin Çeço, but as the defense has warned, the legal battle will continue through the appeal. This case remains a powerful reminder of how such crimes should be handled and what can be done to prevent similar incidents in the future.

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“KORÇA BOOM”