Albania’s anti-corruption prosecutors are seeking jail time for Tirana’s football club director Deborah Keçi over alleged favoritism in the high-profile “5D” tender case.

Albania’s Special Prosecution Office Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has formally requested a one-year prison sentence for Deborah Keçi, director of Tirana’s prominent football club, on charges of breaching equality principles in public procurement. As reported by Top Channel the case revolves around alleged favoritism and irregularities in the awarding of public contracts known as the “5D” case.

According to SPAK, Keçi allegedly favored the company “5D Konstruksion”—a business reportedly controlled behind the scenes by former municipal directors Mariglen Qato and Redi Molla—during several procurement processes. Top Channel notes that both Qato and Molla are also facing trial in separate proceedings related to these accusations.

During the court session on Wednesday, SPAK prosecutors called for Keçi to be found guilty of “violating the equality of participants in public tenders” and initially recommended a sentence of one year in prison. However, as Keçi has applied for abbreviated proceedings (a legal option often resulting in lighter sentences), SPAK proposed reducing the penalty to eight months. Furthermore, prosecutors recommended that the jail time be suspended and converted into two years of probation, alongside a five-year prohibition from holding public office.

A SPAK spokesperson emphasized to the court: “The actions of the defendants undermined public trust in the tender process and violated the law’s guarantee of equal opportunity.” Keçi’s legal defense has strongly denied any wrongdoing and is expected to present arguments in the next hearing, as outlined by Top Channel.

Three additional former officials—Teuta Guri, Renaldo Gjerazi, and Gentjan Meraj—are also facing similar charges. SPAK has requested nine months’ imprisonment for each; under abbreviated proceedings, their sentences would be reduced to six months and converted to probation instead of actual jail time.

The next hearing in the “5D” case is scheduled for May 8 at noon, giving the defense team an opportunity to respond to the charges. The case continues to draw significant public attention in Albania, reflecting ongoing concerns about the transparency and integrity of government tenders.

Legal analysts believe the trial’s outcome could set a new standard for future anti-corruption investigations involving public procurement. As legal expert Arben Hoxha explained to Balkan Insight “Cases like this are crucial for rebuilding confidence in state institutions, as transparent and fair tender processes are fundamental for public trust.”