
Following the trial for the assassination attempt on former prosecutor Arjan Ndoj that occurred in November 2019, Arben Haxhiaj , the brother of Bashkim Haxhiaj , who is in prison and is a defendant for the same incident, testified in court today.
In his testimony, Arben Haxhiaj stated that he had a meeting in 2020 with Aleksandër Laho, otherwise known as " Rrumi i Shijakut ", who had visited him at a bar that Haxhiaj managed in neighborhood no. 5 in Durrës.
He also stated that he was threatened with messages, which read, " Give up, we will kill your brother. We will also take your children ."
According to him, the threat came some time after the communication with Aleksandër Laho , but he does not know who the sender is.
Testimony of Arben Haxhiaj, brother of Bashkim Haxhiaj:
In 2020 I lived in Durrës. I had a small bar in neighborhood no. 5. I know Aleksandër Laho mostly from TV, but I have also met him in person. He came to the bar the third time. He introduced himself to me. He was a little fat, round.
The reason for the meeting was to warn me that my brother, Bashkimi, should stay out of this mess. They've been assassinated. Julit is in a cast. He took 4 bullets. I told him, stay away from me. I continued my work.
My brother was in prison when this happened. We also exchanged phone numbers with Laho (Rrumi i Shijakut). He called me for the same conversation. I gave him the same answer. After that call I had no further contact. I have no knowledge of the assassination attempt on the prosecutor.
"Describe how it came about?" asked lawyer Ilia Ilia.
"A third person came to the bar. I was also threatened with an SMS. They told me: Give up, or we will kill your brother. We will take your children too. I don't know who sent it. This threat came some time after the conversation with Rrumi. My brother was sentenced to 4 years and 8 months for the assassination attempt on the prosecutor.
My brother was also assassinated. I know that when I went to the hospital, they had taken my brother to the police. My brother was in the same car with Plarent Dervishi and Jul Meçe when they were assassinated.
"To my knowledge, all three were harmed. If that matter had been resolved, who carried out the assassination, I would not be here today. I come and testify here, because they call me, but my children are in danger, because I live in Durrës ," he said.
We recall that Redian Rraja, the nephew of former socialist MP Rrahman Rraja , was sentenced to life in prison for the assassination, and Ariol Halilaj was sentenced to 30 years .