Kichevo, 13 December 2024 (MIA) - Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski told journalists Friday that the fight against crime would continue when quizzed about the “Additives” case related to the work of mining-energy complex (REK) Bitola and thermal power plant (TEC) Oslomej. The PM said dozens of such cases would follow in the coming period.

“This will continue. We said we wouldn’t make a show of it, and we are sticking to that. We said once the evidence is secured and founded suspicions of crime exist, the Interior Ministry, alongside the shy prosecutors, would launch action. That action was carried out a few days ago, 23 people are suspected as well as two legal entities. Work is ongoing on dozens of cases. It will become very clear to the Macedonian citizens what has been happening in the past years,” Mickoski told journalists in Kichevo.

Mickoski reiterated that they don’t intend to make a “show” of the cases.

“It won’t be like that, it will be like this, through press releases, and then in a fair and transparent judicial process I expect everyone to prove their guilt or innocence. According to my reports, there will be dozens of such cases in the coming period,” the PM siad.

On Wednesday, the Skopje-based Criminal Court ordered a 30-day detention for former Power Plants of North Macedonia (ESM) director Vasko Stefanov and seven other suspects in the case dubbed "Additives" involving the procurement of additives for mining-energy complex (REK) Bitola and thermal power plant (TEC) Oslomej and obtaining illegal assets of up to EUR 6.5 million.

Pre-trial judges proceeded upon the motion of the Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime and Corruption for detention and precautionary measures against 23 persons suspected in the operation, deciding to order a 30-day detention for eight persons due to flight risk, influencing witnesses and repeating the crime, while one suspect given house arrest due to his age.

The court ordered 13 suspects to surrender their passports and report to the court, while also banning them from maintaining contacts and undertaking activities related to the crime. 

Photo: Government