The well-known Greek newspaper “Protothema” has published an article, where it recounts an event that happened in 1999, with the protagonist of the former interior minister of Albania at that time, Spartak Poçi.
The article shows an unusual event, when Poçi and his delegation went for an official visit to Athens, to meet with his counterpart at that time.
“Protothema” reports that Poçi had traveled from Tirana to Athens, from the border point of Follorina, with a luxury vehicle for the time, type Mercedes Benz S-350, but the vehicle turned out to be stolen in Italy.
While Poçi had passed the customs point, the officers had doubts about the vehicle that it could be stolen, but before taking action, according to the Greek media, they communicated with the Greek interior minister, where they expressed their doubts.
Michalis Chrysochoidis, had asked them to make verifications, but not to say anything to the Albanian delegation.
Afterwards, the Albanian minister was offered a short stop and a coffee, while he was told that the vehicle would undergo a routine check. Poçi had accepted, and after verification the suspicions had turned out to be correct.
The vehicle was stolen three years ago (1996) in Italy, by Albanians, who then brought it to our country and sold it, and then ended up being used by the ministry, for official meetings in the country and in neighboring countries. .
After the inspection, Minister Poçi continued on his way to Athens, and after the end of the official meetings with his counterpart, while he had arrived and stayed at the hotel, the Greek officials had communicated to him that the vehicle he had come with was stolen, and that he would have to to be kept in Greece to be returned to the owner.
According to the Greek media, Poçi initially stated that this could not be true, but then the evidence was made available to him.
After that, Poçi and his delegation returned to Tirana through the airport, while the vehicle was handed over to the Italian owner.
Poçi is said to have requested that this event not be made public for some time. This was respected by the Greek authorities, and 5 days later it was made public, attracting the attention of the international media.
This event is recounted by the former police official, Panos Sombolos, who was present at this event, in a book published in Greek.
