Skopje, 29 December 2024 (MIA) - Considering the fact that many suspects remain at large, including five in the Belanoca crime ring case, Chief Prosecutor Ljupcho Kocevski guarantees there are no leaks from the Public Prosecutor's Office.

Prosecutor Kocevski told Radio Free Europe there is no information over the whereabouts of former deputy PM Artan Grubi, whereas detention has not been sought for former Power Plants of North Macedonia (ESM) director Vasko Kovachevski since the maximum penalty for the charge is five years.

"I can guarantee there are no leaks from the Prosecutor's Office, because those pre-investigations and surveillance measures were active for months and none was cracked. The operation was breached in its final stage, namely a day or two before it took place. The Office is currently investigating this circumstance, getting to the mole. Nevertheless, the operation was conducted and a few of the suspects have been arrested," says Kocevski.

On Grubi's escape, Kocevski says the PPO currently has no information over his whereabouts.

"From what we heard from the Minister of interior, human factor is involved and the MoI is investigating the manner in which he crossed the border," says Kocevski and adds that charges have been pressed against the police officer on duty and other persons.

On the escape of ex-ESM director Kovachevski, the Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime and Corruption has established that the crime entails a prison sentence of a maximum of five years, which is the reason why a detention order has not been issued. At the time of the search, Kovachevski was out of the country and there is still no notification from the MoI about his whereabouts.

Regarding former PM Dimitar Kovachevski and former government secretary general Metodija Dimovski, Kocevski says the Financial Police and the MoI pressed criminal charges to the Skopje Prosecutor's Office, but the public prosecutor working on the case assessed there is sufficient evidence only for the suspects that are being investigated within the State Lottery case.

"The criminal charges for the other persons have not been discarded, meaning they are still investigated. If there are elements of a crime, we will proceed accordingly," notes Kocevski.

MIA file photo