Prishtina, 03 February 2012 - Anti-Corruption Agency welcomed the decision of the Government of Kosovo to relieve from duty two senior public officials, or more specifically, Mr. Elez Hajdari, Member of the Board of Directors of the Public Enterprise "Hidrodrini" in Peja and Smajl Jonuzaj, Member of the Board of Directors in the Kosovo Energy Corporation, KEK, because of the conflict of interest and their unwillingness to avoid it.
The Government decision came after ACA had made a request for their discharge since the two senior officials in no way adhered to the Agency's requests to avoid the conflict of interest.
In June last year, ACA had formally requested Mr. Elez Hajdari that while he exercises the function - "Member of the Board of Directors" in the "RWC-Hidrodrini" Peja, he cannot at the same time be in the function: "Head of water and wastewater supply Sector", in the operating unit in Istog, in order not to cause conflict of interest situation that would create incompatibilities between these two functions.
After several attempts that were made in order to persuade Mr. Hajdari to waive the conflict of interest, ACA within the legal deadlines received no feedback from the Official that would demonstrate the avoidance of conflict of interest. While we have received a letter from Mr. Hajdaraj (7.06.2011) in which he claims that he is not in a situation of conflict of interest.
Also, in the other case against Mr. Smajl Jonuzaj, ACA has requested from him that while he exercises the function - "Member of the Board of Directors" to "KEK", he cannot also be in the function of the person authorized in private businesses, "Kabe Group" sh.p.k. and N.P. "Comel" in order not to cause conflict of interest situation that would create incompatibilities between these two functions.
After the ACA letter addressed to Mr. Jonuzi, ACA within legal deadlines received a response from the Official who argued avoiding conflict of interest but only for business "N.P. Comel" where Official Jonuzi had appointed another person to be the Authorized Person. While for the business "Kabe Group" sh.p.k there has been no change made in avoiding conflict of interest not even today.
He continued to be on these two functions, Member of the Board of KEK in one hand - a public function, and the Authorized Person of private business "Kabe Group" Sh.p.k on the other hand, which according to the Law on Preventing Conflict of Interest in Exercising Public Function (No. 04/L-051), is considered incompatible and represents a conflict of interest.
Therefore, ACA had requested from the Government of the Republic of Kosovo to take measures for their discharge from public functions they held.
