SPAK Uncovers the Scheme, how Vodafone Albania bribed Ilir Meta and Monika Kryemadhi Couple via UNIFI, with Key Roles of Marin Gjonaj, Theodhori Çami, Piro Xhixho, and Adrian Shatku
The Albanian Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has revealed details of an alleged corruptive payment scheme orchestrated by Vodafone Albania to the benefit the Meta-Kryemadhi couple through the telecommunications company UNIFI.
Testimonies provided to SPAK by several witnesses and associates involved in negotiations for Meta and Kryemadhi’s interests have outlined how Vodafone allegedly transferred significant sums to the couple via a seemingly legitimate business contract for international call transit services.
This contract was established with UNIFI, managed by Adrian Shatku, while Info Telecom and the company owned by Theodhori Çami were also involved in the transaction.
Documents obtained by SPAK and viewed by Gazeta Korrieri reveal that, despite being competitors in the telecommunications market, Info Telecom and Theodhori Çami supported Meta and Kryemadhi by providing technical access and facilitating introductions to Vodafone executives. These connections reportedly enabled the Meta-Kryemadhi couple to secure a share in the lucrative call transit market of Vodafone Albania through UNIFI.
The case has raised allegations of active corruption involving Vodafone Albania and passive corruption on the part of the Meta-Kryemadhi couple, with SPAK’s evidence suggesting that the couple leveraged their influence and connections with individuals like Marin Gjonaj and Theodhori Çami to establish direct links with Vodafone Albania top management like Dietlof Mare.
However, SPAK has yet to initiate investigations into Vodafone executives for active corruption, potentially due to statute limitations similar to those applied in other cases, such as that involving business mogul Samir Mane.
Further testimony in the SPAK file alleges that Vodafone, through Theodhori Çami, solicited Kryemadhi’s assistance in using her access to Meta and their influence over AKEP head Piro Xhixho to advance Vodafone’s market interests by exerting pressure on competing company Plus, where Mane was a major shareholder. The SPAK dossier thus highlights a complex web of conflicting and overlapping interests among Meta, Kryemadhi, Gjonaj, Çami, and Mane, with Adrian Shatku legally signing off on various aspects of the arrangement as a key facilitator.
According to statements reviewed by Korrieri, Marin Gjonaj’s company, Info Telecom, played a pivotal role by connecting UNIFI—an enterprise with which Meta and Kryemadhi reportedly held direct interests—with Vodafone’s network to enable international call transit, generating tens of thousands of euros weekly. These transactions required Vodafone directors’ approval, which, as SPAK’s file suggests, was secured with Theodhori Çami’s involvement, along with Vodafone’s reported need for Meta and Kryemadhi’s support in overseeing AKEP, the regulatory authority with control over Albania’s telecommunications market.
The dossier provides additional background on the key figures: Theodhori Çami, a prominent businessman, owns LeSpot and a television channel, while Marin Gjonaj, head of Gjonaj Group, owns numerous companies. Gjonaj was recently placed on Albania’s wanted list by police in connection with Bitcoin farm operations in Durrës, a case in which only low-level employees faced arrest. /Korrieri
