Skopje, 21 May 2024 (MIA) - The Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office for Prosecuting Organized Crime and Corruption launched an investigation Tuesday against Supreme Court judge Nake Georgiev and Council of Public Prosecutors member Ixhet Memeti who are suspected of “accepting a reward for unlawful influence”.

The investigation has been launched after an action from the Interior Ministry following a report from the son of a suspect in a separate case led at the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office for Prosecuting Organized Crime and Corruption.

“On Monday afternoon, the Interior Ministry carried out an action during which it arrested an active Supreme Court judge. On the basis of the received notification from the Interior Ministry, the Public Security Bureau, the Criminal Police Department, the Sector for Economic Crime and Corruption, a public prosecutor at the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office for Prosecuting Organized Crime and Corruption has ordered an investigation against two people who are suspected of committing the crime of accepting a reward for unlawful influence,” the Prosecutor’s Office said in a press release.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the first suspect, using his official position and influence, falsely promised benefits for a suspect (the father of the person who reported the offense) in a separate procedure being led at the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office for Prosecuting Organized Crime and Corruption, and falsely claimed they would exert influence alongside with the second suspect.

“In addition to searches in several locations, the prosecutor issued an application to the Basic Criminal Court in Skopje on Monday evening for the detainment of the first suspect. Considering that the suspect is a judge at the country’s highest court – the Supreme Court, and consequently has immunity, but has also been in flagranti caught committing the criminal offense, the application was forwarded by the Basic Criminal Court to the Judicial Council of the Republic of North Macedonia, which, during the evening, decided to waive his immunity. The Basic Criminal Court in Skopje is set to decide on the proposed measure on Tuesday,” the Prosecutor’s Office said.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, detainment has only been requested for the first suspect due to the legal basis provided by the collected evidence.

Photo: MIA Archive