Kosovo police during the operation against the alleged insurance fraud on January 8, 2025. Photo: BIRN
Kosovo police arrested 39 people suspected of large-scale financial abuse at the Kosovo Insurance Bureau, BKS, with estimated damages exceeding 1 million euros. The arrests followed raids across several cities on Thursday in an investigation led by the Prizren Basic Prosecution. Some 23,700 euros in cash, watches, weapons and electronic equipment were seized, while 1.3 million euros were frozen.
Among the arrested was Sami Mazreku, former Executive Director of BKS and Valon Berisha, former Director of Finance at BKS.
At a press conference, the Chief Prosecutor of Prizren, Petrit Kryeziu, explained that during the course of investigations that started in March 2025, prosecutors found 166 suspicious transactions ranging in amount from 6,800 to 68,000 euros.
According to Kryeziu, the arrested are suspected of “abusing the authorisations given by BKS, enabling themselves and others to conduct various transactions and prepare falsified documents”.
Prosecutors allege that Berisha and Mazreku unlawfully benefited from bureau funds between July 2022 and October 9, 2023.
The two are suspected of manipulating traffic accident compensation claims, to divert money for personal gain. According to the prosecution, the suspects prepared falsified financial documents and misleading balance reports to deceive BKS governing bodies.
They identified citizens involved in traffic accidents and transferred money to them under the pretext of compensation for damages. Agreements were made with them, whereby a small portion of the funds would remain with them, while the larger part of the transferred amount would go to Mazreku and Berisha.
Apart from the 39 arrested during Thursday’s raids, seven others, currently abroad, are under investigation for allegedly allowing their bank accounts to be used to facilitate the transfers.
More than 300 police officers from economic and financial crime units were deployed in the operation, which is ongoing in Prizren, Prishtine/Pristina and ten other municipalities.
The Kosovo Insurance Bureau said the case was “initiated following findings from an internal audit”, emphasising that the BKS “itself reported the suspected abuses to authorities.
“After identifying serious violations and indications of misuse, BKS took immediate legal steps by referring the case to the competent institutions,” the bureau said, adding that it is fully cooperating with prosecutors and police.