Skopje, 12 December 2024 (MIA) - The Skopje-based Appellate Court has cancelled the first-instance verdict in the "Besa Trans" case, which is set for retrial, MIA learns.

The verdict has been cancelled after the court accepted the appeals of the defentant. The case will be retried, said the court.

On 23 November 2021, 45 people were killed after a "Besa Trans" bus travelling from Istanbul to Skopje skidded and caught fire on the Struma highway in Bulgaria. Bulgarian investigators established that the driver was responsible for the accident after losing control of the bus.

In March of this year, "Besa Trans" owner Bekim Hahxiu was handed a prison sentence of one year and eight months, a fine of Mden 800,000 (EUR 13,000) and a four-year ban for international transport of the legal entity in the case involving a falsification of a document.

According to the verdict, Haxhiu, in the capacity of manager, used a false document - a license for international public transport - that was not issued by the Ministry of Transport and Communications for the specific bus. Haxhiu repeatedly used the document through the drivers of the bus owned by the company.

MIA file photo