By Kastriot Dervishi
Memorie.al / after the conviction of the first two groups of deputies, namely the process of September 1947 and January 1948, in March 1948, the “Third Group” was tried. In this “group”, there was no former MP, but all of them were accused of having friendly relations with the convicts of the first two processes, and for this reason, they can be considered as the “Third Group of MPs”. Anyone of them could participate in the trial of the first two groups, because their selection was made completely randomly by the prosecution body.
Ali Bakiu, chairman from November 1944 to June 1946, of the Executive Committee of the Sub prefecture of Tirana (the old Municipality), who during the time he led the Municipality on his own will, did not even receive a salary, was appointed; “enemy”, because he did not support the actions of the government, even for this reason, he had requested his resignation.
However, it was announced in the press that he was dismissed from office, because he supported the “enemies of the people”, etc. For almost a year, the group was tortured in the most terrible way, in the investigators of Tirana. They were intellectuals from Tirana, who had the misfortune of living in a place where crime was in power. It is characteristic that in general this “group” has not accepted the accusations.
Arrests and other records
March 15, 1947
– Fehmi Leskani, from Dibra, resident in Tirana, 54 years old, merchant.
May 15, 1947
– Haki Karapici, from Tirana, 34 years old, lawyer. It was also used in the trial of the first group of deputies.
– Irfan Pustina, from Dibra, resident in Tirana, 36 years old, doctor. He was accused of having connections with Shefqet Beja, Enver Sazan, Sheh Karbunara. It was asked by the investigator Beqir Ndou. He was familiar with Shefqet Beja, because during the war, he had saved him from prison with the intercession of Ibrahim Biçakçi, but he had not done any other actions.
– Gjergj Ashta, from Shkodra, resident in Tirana, 40 years old, lawyer. He was accused, based on his friendship, with Selaudin Toto. Before the investigator Mihal Kanani, no facts appear to prove the accusation.
May 16, 1947– Ymer Keçi, from Tirana, 44 years old, beer seller. In 1945, there was “Kursalin” coffee. He was accused of knowing Shefqet Beja.
– Ali Bakiu, from Tirana, 37 years old, merchant. He was accused of having connections with Hasan Reçi, Shefqet Bejë, Kola Kuqali, Enver Sazan, etc. The investigator stated that; He didn’t know Shefqet Beja at all and there was no way to go to his house, when he didn’t even know where it was. Before the investigator Mihal Kanani, he denied any accusation. He was released from Burrel prison on 25.6.1959.
– Ali Shtepani, from Shëngjergji in Tirana, 78 years old, owner. He was accused of being the vice president of the “Central Committee”. He had only been to Shefqet Beja’s home once, for the death of his mother. He had met Irfan Majuni only once, when he asked him for a beehive. Before the investigator Beqir Ndou, no compromising facts emerge.
– Enver Topulli, from Gjirokastra, resident in Lushnja, 46 years old, merchant.
– Kadri Kirçiku, from Tirana, 51 years old, doctor. He was accused of being a member of the “organization”. From the investigation conducted by Beqir Ndou, no implications emerge.
– Kel Koçobashi, from Shkodra, 54 years old, clerk. He was accused of agitation against the government. Before the investigator Mihal Kanani, no facts appear to prove the accusation.
May 17, 1947
– Vasil Xhaj, from Sofratika in Gjirokastra, resident in Tirana, 42 years old, lawyer. During the investigation, he is asked about the connections with Kostë Boshnjak, Haki Karapici and Balztar Benusi. He does not accept the charges. According to him, Haki Karapici was very scared by the arrest of Hasan Reçi.
– Baltazar Benusi, from Shkodra, resident in Tirana, 51 years old, lawyer. He was accused of connection with Shefqet Beja, Gjergj Kokoshin, Suat Asllan, with UNRRA, etc. Investigator Beqir Ndou interrogates him. In court, he denies the investigation.
May 18, 1947
– Adem Xhepa, from Tirana, 61 years old, beer seller. He was accused of having helped the organization financially, through Haki Karapic. He denied all charges.
May 19, 1947
– Ibrahim Keçi, from Tirana, 60 years old, merchant. He admitted to the investigator Beqir Ndou, acquaintance with Shefqet Beja and someone else, but denied any activity.
The judicial process, after the inhumane torture of the investigator
During the entire time of the investigation, the most terrible tortures were used against the defendants. Part of the defendants, due to this pressure, have accepted the charges fabricated by the investigation. The process was opened on 22.3.1948 in Tirana, by a military court, led by the first captain, Abdyl Hakiu, the second captain, Shaban Rezha and lieutenant, Hamet Çiraku, with the prosecutor, captain Petrit Hakani, present.
– Baltazar Benusi, rejected the accusations that he was “a UNRRA informant”.
– Haki Karapici, under great pressure, “accepted the accusations”, regarding “the existence of an organization”.
– Ali Bakiu rejected the accusations made against him, it seems to add that his name was mentioned by Ali Kavaja, in the process of the group of Sami Qeribashi, Musine Kokalari and Qenan Dibra.
– Ali Shtepani, rejected the accusations of gathering and organization.
– Ibrahim Keçi, rejected the accusations and said that he was an entrepreneur.
– Ymer Keçi, accepted the charges made.
– Vasil Xhaj, partially accepted the charge. He admitted that he had criticized the government, but not agitation.
– Enver Topulli, rejected the accusations.
– Adem Xhepa, rejected the accusations.
– Fehmi Leksani, rejected the accusations. He refused to answer on the minutes of the investigation, denying it.
– Irfan Pustina, rejected the accusations.
– Kadri Kirçiku, rejected the accusations.
– Gjergj Ashta, rejected the accusations.
– Kole Koxhobashi, rejected the accusations.
The prosecutor accused them of; since after the war, they were associated with Shfqet Beja, being part of a “terrorist group”, in the so-called “Circular of Tirana” (allegedly with Ali Shtepani in charge). They were accused of; were associated with the Anglo-Americans and aimed at subverting power in connection with the organization of deputies.
Court decision
With decision no. 212, dated 30.3.1948, the Military Court of Tirana, based on articles 6, 8, 10, of law no. 372 and article 15 of law no. 373, decided the confiscation of property, as well as the following penalties:
– By death, shooting, of citizens: Haki Karapici, Irfan Pustina, Ali Bakiu, Ymer Keçi.
– With 20 years’ imprisonment: Vasil Xhaj.
– With 15 years’ imprisonment: Kadri Kirçiku, Baltazar Benusi.
– With 10 years of imprisonment: Enver Topulli, Gjergj Ashta, Adem Xhepa, Kel Koxhobashki, Ali Shtepani.
Interim statement
In his statement dated 5.4.1949, Security officer Naun Bezhani (in the investigative process of Koçi Xoxes) stated:
“In Tirana, when a group of deputies’ organization was being tried, where they were members of the Tirana district of this organization, Haki Karapici was sentenced to death and we were given an order by the court for his execution. After it seemed unfair to us in the section that only this man and his friends who had not spoken to the investigator or before the trial should be forgiven, I told Vaska (Koleci) about this and after a while he ordered us not to execute him and so it was not executed, even though the decision of the Supreme Court was given for its execution.”
Revised sentence
With decision no. 127, dated 21.4.1948, the Supreme Military Court made the following changes:
– Life imprisonment: Haki Karapici, Irfan Pustina, Ali Bakiu, Ymer Keçi.
– With 7 years’ imprisonment: Baltazar Benusi.
– With 5 years’ imprisonment: Ali Shtepani.
– With 2 years’ imprisonment: Kadri Kirçiku.
– With detention carried out: Vasil Xhaj, Adem Xhepa, Enver Topulli.
– Innocence: Gjergj Ashta, Kel Kozhobashi. Only the confiscation of the property of convicts, with life imprisonment, remained in force.
With decision no. 1, dated 15.5.1959, of the Plenum of the Supreme Court, Kadri Kirčiku, Vasil Xhaj and Irfan Pustina were acquitted. Memorie.al
