Albanian ex-lawmaker jailed for money laundering

TIRANA, Albania – An Albanian court has sentenced a former lawmaker and ex-leader of the rightist Christian Democratic Party to 7 1/2 years in prison for money laundering, illegal construction and hiding property.

However, the Tirana Court of Serious Crimes rejected a murder charge against Mark Frroku related to a killing in Belgium in 1999.The Tirana Court of Serious Crimes on Friday sentenced Frroku, 44, for money laundry, illegal construction and hiding property.

Frroku, who was not present at the court Friday to hear the verdict, was arrested in 2015 after his false testimony over claims that the parliament speaker was behind an alleged assassination plot to kill two deputies.

Frroku’s lawyers said they would appeal the verdict.