The Special Court has issued the final verdict in the criminal case against 16 defendants, known as the Call Center group, who profited from 4.7 million euros by defrauding Italian citizens through online platforms.
Bruno Çobo and his group were accused by SPAK of “computer fraud” and “participation in a structured criminal group.” According to the decision, sentences ranging from 6 years and 8 months to 8 years of effective imprisonment were given, after applying a reduction of 1/3 due to the shortened procedure for the members of the group.
MAIN PUNISHMENTS:
- Bruno Çobo, considered one of the leaders of the group, was ultimately sentenced to 8 years in prison for the criminal offenses of "Computer Fraud" and "Structured Criminal Group".
- Elisa Çaçi (Caci) and Gilbert Palushani were sentenced to 7 years and 4 months in prison each.
- Aldo Pasku and Bruno Gjika received final sentences of 6 years and 8 months in prison.
- Sentences of 6 years and 8 months in prison were also given to Rezarta Ibrahimi (Çaçi), Valbona Abedinaj, Orland Cani, Florjan Bregu, Hamit Dobi, Greta Gjoci (Pepë), Gjin Shelnishta, Antoneta Malo (Pepkolaj), Silvana Veliu and Mojsi Zuna.
The court ordered that the sentences be served in high-security prisons, starting from the day of execution of the security measures.
GROUP ACTIVITIES:
On March 14, 2024, just a few hours after arriving from Dubai, Bruno Çobo appeared for the first time before the black squads, where he was informed of the security measure of "prison arrest" that had been previously imposed in absentia.
Çobo, along with 16 other defendants, are accused of participating in a criminal fraud network that allegedly benefited from 4.7 million euros from Italian citizens through Call Centers in Tirana.
In his first court hearing, Çobo stated that he had surrendered himself, denying that he had been accompanied by Emirati authorities. "I came to Albania on my own feet. No authority from the Emirates or Dubai accompanied me. I came to Rinas and at the checkpoint I told them who I was and what the purpose of my arrival was. The services were notified and they accompanied me. They even put me on the plane again," he told the jury.
Through fictitious investment platforms on the stock market, they have defrauded over 1,200 Italian citizens. The money obtained, according to the investigation, was then invested in cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. Investigators emphasize that in some cases the damage to the victims has been extraordinary, since the group has received 700 thousand euros through false investment schemes from just one Italian citizen.