“Sulejman Domit, in Elbasan, they brought the ‘boy’ near the cell, who begged him to show the hidden gold, but he was Thanas Caku, from the Security…”/ The shocking story of the robbery of gold, by the communist regime

By Kastriot Dervishi    

The first part

– The names of the merchants and rich people of Albania who were robbed by the communist regime and where did the amount of 43,816,682 gold coins collected by the State Security go?!-

Memorie.al / An article published years ago, in the magazine “In the service of the people” (former organ of the Ministry of Internal Affairs), by Nuri Mehmeti, has opened a considerable controversy in the years of transition, with the title “When the economic foundations of popular power were laid”. This article was published on pages 14-15 of the August 1984 issue, in the magazine in question, with the headline “40 years of liberation, the path of war and victory”! Later controversy regarding this article arose because the figure of 43,816,682 gold coins mentioned in the article, stolen from the State Security, was an official figure. Among other things, the author Nuri Mehmeti says in his writing:

“….The new power established immediately after the liberation of the homeland, which began to perform its functions as a dictatorship of the proletariat, definitely required the economic base…! In January 1945, the law on the confiscation of the property of Italian and German citizens was passed. Also, in January, the extraordinary tax law on war profits came out. This law hit especially that part of the bourgeoisie, which had accumulated great wealth…! In many cases, the taxed elements refused to pay the specified amount, on the pretext that they did not have it….some tried to take gold and other items out of the country!

Even more difficult actions had to be taken by the Internal Affairs bodies, especially those of the police, to discover the gold that the capitalists and traders had hidden. The experience was little, but the help of the people was great. They helped the workers and specialists, who had participated in the construction of safe depositories and who had done the hiding in unknown places, helped those who had served as indentured servants, near the past capitalists, etc. Thus, it was possible to discover underground warehouses, in the plots and yards of capitalists, farmers and traders. Pots of gold were found, not only in deep, underground concreting, and in the walls of houses, but also under the roots of trees and under the surfaces of drinking water wells, such as in Durrës, Tirana, etc.

In Elbasan, a large amount of goods of the merchant H.B. in an underground warehouse, over which leeks and various vegetables were planted. Such discoveries were also made in Shkodër, Durrës, Korçë. By the end of 1948, 43,816,682 gold coins had been discovered, not to mention gold bars and ornaments. The Internal Affairs bodies followed all the developments of the events, waging a persistent war against speculative and extravagant elements…….”!

But while the communists accept such a figure of seizures, other official data are completely contradictory. Thus, according to a secret letter signed by the director of the Treasury, Fahri Hoxha, on January 16, 1992, it is known that; the amount of gold entered into the Treasury from seizures, in the period December 1, 1944 – December 31, 1990, is only 3,029 kg.

While, in the period December 1, 1944, until December 31, 1990, a total of 8,749 kg entered the State Treasury gold and 7,600 kg came out gold However, the figure of 43,816,682 coins is not equal to 3,029 kg of gold, but to at least 320 tons of gold. Then, a question arises that will be answered: where did all this amount of gold go?! Who took it?! Why are there big differences between the amounts?!

– ROBBED MERCHANTS IN KORCA

One of the first authors, who took part in the beginnings of political pluralism in Albania, (with the issue of the looted treasury) in the Albanian press, with several articles in the newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike”, was the late Teodor Keko.

In the article “Archives about the gold riddle”, dated June 15, 1991, Keko is based on the archive data of the Executive Committee of the People’s Council of Korça. According to file no. 34, of the Finance section, based on the report dated May 15, 1945, it is learned that; the Korça merchants were assigned a “tax” (read robbery) of 86,685,968 gold francs, of which, until this period, about half of it had been collected.

According to the local history of the Korca Police, it is learned that 400 kg were robbed in this city alone gold and 48 thousand gold napoleons, not to mention other ornaments, stolen by bandits. To illustrate the “yellow massacre”, Teodor Keko also presents a list of 32 corcar families, who were robbed, in addition to their shops and houses, and a significant amount of florins. Among the most important names, here we can mention the families: Qirjako, Abeshi, Cingu, Plasati, Katro, Gjezi, Samara, Qirinxhi, Çekani, Pepo, Lako, Turtulli, Jani, Stase, Mborja, Bino, Terova, Mulla, Nora, Pilika , Ballauri, Peço, Serani, Katundi, Zahara, Pllaha, Bicolli, Thomo, Barçe, etc. Among the main robbers is Kristaq Cingo, with 9,002,500 gold francs.

In the aforementioned issue of the newspaper, the witness Paskal Andoni, a former employee in the third branch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, testifies that, when it was supposed to be opened, Hysni Kapo’s safe was full of gold.

The list of the most robbed families in Korça is this:

1. The Qirjako brotherhood
2. Abeshi brotherhood
3. Stase brotherhood
4. Kristaq Cingo
5. Thoma Plasati
6. Katro Brotherhood
7. Hari Kristo Samara
8. Gjezi brotherhood
9. The Kirinxhi brothers
10. Ligor Jani
11. Plasa brotherhood
12. Lako brotherhood
13. Vangjel and Gaqo Turtulli
14. Brotherhood Balli
15. Vasil Pepo
16. Jankulla Çekani
17. Sotir Mborja
18. Dhimitre Bino
19. Refail Terova
20. Pandi Mulla
21. Pandeli Nora
22. Anastas Pilika & Angel Stavraq Ballauri
23. Dhimitre Peço
24. Vangjo Serani
25. The Katundi brothers
26. Lambi Kiço Zahara
27. The Pllaha brothers
28. Sotir Bicolli
29. The Terova brothers
30. Thoma Thomo
31. The Barçe Brotherhood

Here, we can add that 450 kg of gold were taken from Rexhep Merdani alone, of which, the archive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, only records 29 kg. Other families robbed from Korça are the families: Ypi, Ziko, Bopi, Fundo, Kondi, Opari, etc.

– OF THE ROBBERIES IN ELBASAN

Even Elbasan is considered one of the most robbed cities by the criminal gang that came to power in 1944. In addition to numerous seizures, the communists, like throughout Albania, did not forget to use other forms, which had to do with violence and the torture.

A practice known to State Security men, to extract the right amount of gold, was arrest and torture. Thus, many merchants were subjected to inhumane imprisonment and torture. In Elbasan, several died in prison because of gold. Sulejman Domi, Xhaferr Çelirama, Mateo Papajani, Refik Myftiu, etc., died in the communist prisons, due to the non-delivery of the gold demanded by the communist bandits.

It should be remembered that Refik Mufti’s gold was discovered by chance, when the Music School was built in Ebasan. Not a small amount of gold was buried in the roots of a pomegranate. Of course, the most typical example of violence against merchants was the death by severe torture of one of the most popular merchants of Elbasan, Sulejman Domi, who died in the improvised cell of the “Grand Hotel” in Elbasan on April 11, 1948, after 11 days of torture.

Although he had submitted the “tax” that was assigned to him twice, the robbers were not satisfied with that, but they also stole the amount of gold that he had at home. It should be noted that, in the archive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, there is no document of any kind regarding the taking of the gold of the late Sulejman Domi, who was subjected to the most inhumane tortures, such as those of entering in winter up to the neck in cold water, those of throwing from a great height to the ground, pulling out nails, hands or feet, etc., etc.

Because of these tortures, the body of the honest merchant, Sulejman Domi, could not endure. He died at the age of 58. To this day, his grave is unknown. The persecutors never showed it. The photo of Sulejman Dom, which we are publishing, is taken from the files of the Security, and shows him the day before his death. How many of them throughout Albania have suffered his fate?!

Pointed as persecutors in Elbasan, are the names of Petri Hakan, Haki Mahmutaj (who is also known by the surname Tepelena and was in charge of the Finance Section in Elbasan), Mehmet Tepelena, Riza Tirana, Adem Demir, Thanas Caku, and many others. many others. Of course, prosecutor Josif Taja also stood out here.

In order to learn more about Sulë Dom’s gold, the State Security also drew up a plan, according to which, a person disguised himself as Sulë Dom’s son, Mahiri. This person stood on the steps of the cell, at a distance from Sula Domi, praying from afar that the latter would hand over the gold. According to the files of the Security, the person who “impersonated” the late professor, Mahir Domi, was the hated Thanas Caku.

In the process of gold theft, in Elbasan, the Mahmutaj brothers played an important role, which, due to the confusion of their surname, changed it (surname) from M… to “Tepelena”. Both brothers were from Rabija of Tepelena. (While today, in the Parliament of Albania, the socialist deputy, with the last name Tepelena, is a daughter-in-law in the house of the aforementioned. Apparently: the “tradition” continues).

OTHER FAMILIES ROBBED IN ALBANIA

The sequestrivo-predatory process was, of course, massive throughout Albania. The heaviest burden in this process fell on the commercial families of the main cities of the country. If we were to make a general ranking of the most seized families, they would be:

In Berat: Hoxha, Hushi, Çullaku, Dardha, Konicoti, Kuçi, Vrioni, etc.

In Durrës: Dovana, Shijaku, Dibra, Dushi, Hamdija, Zagoridha, Mushketa, Leka, Dakoli, Manushi, Nushi, Vangjeli, Beshiri, etc.

In Elbasan: Domi, Kazazi, Bakalli, Mehja, Velencja, Miraku, Hastopalli, Kopili, Bebi, Kulla, Dodbiba, Shkodra, Shiku, etc.

In Gjirokastra: Liti, Mezini, Omari, Toila, Tushe, Selfo, Çoçoli, Xhiko, Totozani, etc.

In Vlora: Bisholli, Bezani, Bitri, Busheka, Chili, Hoxha, Shuka, Sorra, Levi, Jakseli, Strati, Jonuzi, Gurabardhi, Qazimi, etc.

In Shkodër: Pistuli, Topalli, Muka, Kaçulini, Vjerdha, Rroji, Anamali, Bakalli, Bushati, Kraja, Dabërdaku, Koka, Hoti, Gjoka, Luka, Mati, Sokoli, Karehamni, Pogu, Tahiri, Tepelia, Serreqi, Luka, Mati , Pogu, etc., etc.

In Saranda: Çelo, Harito, Llambro, Rushiti, Muzina, etc.

In the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a special branch was set up, which dealt with gold and which was headed at that time by Maqo Çomo (who later became Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs). After the gold robbery, in a certain district near this branch, a special verbal process was conducted, except for two others, who went to the bank and the local branch of Internal Affairs.

Among the biggest robberies, we can single out the brothers Jonuz and Nexh Shijaku from Durrës, who were robbed of 45 thousand napoleons of gold, a truck loaded with gold and some precious diamonds. Aristidh Leka, from Durrës, was robbed of 45,000 napoleons of gold and several sq. others gold and jewels. In other words, Aristidh Leka handed over 432 kg of gold, while in the archives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State, and the Treasury, the figure is approximately 17 kg. This was not enough, but Aristidh Leka also endured the sufferings of the cell until death.

Pepe Levi and Refael Jakselli, from Vlora, were robbed of 42 million gold francs, paying about 100 thousand Napoleons. Even Levi, after leaving prison, took 38 kg of gold. For all these cases, the documentation in the Ministry of Internal Affairs is quite fragmented and incomplete. So, for example, Alfons Dovana from Durrës was given 516 kg. Gold, while in the archives, 58 kg was recorded. 42 kg were taken from Abdulla Kazazi from Elbasan gold, while in the archives, a figure of 12-14 kg is recorded.

39 kg were taken from Ibrahim Velence from Elbasan gold, while in the archives, only 0.3 kg were recorded. Moreover, according to the document of the State Bank of Elbasan, dated May 2, 1949, 6 damaged coins were allegedly returned to Ibrahim Velence, do you think the sequestration authorities had any sense of decency towards the people who were robbing!

Mihal Dilos from Gjirokastra was robbed of 100 kg gold, while in the archives, only 0.013 kg was recorded. Among the other merchants, who received a large amount of gold and nothing was registered, is Harallamb Papa, with 258 kg gold The wave of scandalous seizures and robberies did not spare even that part of the population that was not affected by the so-called “extraordinary tax”.

There are many cases that prove that the wave of robbery has also spread to citizens who had a symbolic amount of gold. Even in these cases, the documentation is incomplete or with major changes.

THIS IS WHICH FAMILIES WERE ROBBED FIRST IN TIRANA

Tirana was among the cities that had the largest number of robbed families. Within a few days, from the release of the “extraordinary tax law”, the Tax Commission of Tirana drew up the lists of its victims. In the newspaper “Bashkimi” dated March 22, 1945, the list of families that were designated to be robbed by the communist regime was published. This list was accompanied by some data regarding the “profit during the war”, the amount to be taxed, as well as the certified tax. Below, we are publishing the list of families, as well as the “certified tax”.

1. Vlazan Kazazi – 16,430,000
2. Brother Choka – 4,990,000
3. Murat Begeja & brothers – 5,774,000
4. Hysen Ali Mehmeti – 3,902,000
5. Osman Vaqarri – 1,440,000
6. Besnik Tugu – 614,000
7. Ramazan Konçi – 1.946.268
8. Ymer & Sali Beqiri – 614,000
9. Sadik Kazazi – 398,000
10. Abdulla Turkeshi – 2,433,200
11. Ismail Fortuzi – 224,000
12. Qamil Dibra – 1,870,290
13. Sons of Gaqi Opari – 371,000
14. Manol Kume – 6,832,400
15. Vlazan Tase – 3.974.000
16. Jusuf Kruja – 3,830,000
17. Vllaznia Mehmeti – 126,000
18. Ramazan Zdrava – 130,850
19. Halit Mani – 143,000
20. Vath Baroni – 130,850
21. Abdulla Alliu & nephews – 163,250
22. Mehmet Tugu – 2,750,000
23. Mezini & Kasmi – 126,800
24. Qamil Hoti – 264,500
25. Hysen Drishti – 143,000
26. Filip Korra – 2,259,000
27. Fetah Kasmi – 126,800
28. Mustafa Kasmi – 224.250
29. Vllazan Loxha – 749,000
30. Ramazan Berberolli – 622.100
31. Mersin Konçi – 668,000
32. Sefedin Zhubi – 159,200
33. Qamil Zhubi – 203.750
34. Qoshja & I. Deliu – 1.566.000
35. Mehmet Kasmi & brothers – 830,000
36. Dushi brothers – 1,606,320
37. John Laca – 884.0 00
38. Vllazan Spahija – 325,250
39. Kasmi & Ferra – 252,250
40. Iliaz Dajçi – 126.800
41. Xhevat Gabeci – 830,000
42. Xundi Sheko & Sons – 27,950,000
43. Pashuk Bib Mirakaj – 1,755,000
44. Xhemal Begeja – 143,000
45. Ibrahim Begeja – 1,440,000
46. Qamil Shtiza – 126,000

The total amount of “certified tax” 112,469,828 gold francs. Memorie.al

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