The first substantive hearing was held at the GJKKO for the mayor of Tropoja, Rexhë Byberi, and deputy mayor Abedin Kërnaja, who will be tried under ordinary procedure.
Trial Judge Atalanta Zeqiraj found that the defendants for abuse of office had not requested a summary trial in the preliminary hearing.
The two officials are accused of causing the state a damage of 2.7 million euros, where for the construction of two roads, they leveled forests without consulting other environmental institutions and without completing the application in the electronic e-permit system at the Tropoja Municipality.
SPAK Prosecutor Elvin Gokaj read the request for trial and requested that 10 witnesses be called to the process, as well as announcing the names of those who have been questioned during this time as persons with knowledge.
Gogaj also referred to an expertise that was conducted in implementation of the tasks assigned by the court, where the economic damage that the two officials caused to the budget was ascertained.
In August 2025, the GJKKO replaced the "house arrest" security measure with the "compulsory appearance" measure for Byberi and Deputy Mayor Kërrnaja.