Tetovo, 25 September 2024 (MIA) – The retrial of two directors of the Tetovo Hospital, found guilty for the 2021 fire in a modular hospital killing 14 people, was postponed Wednesday for the second time. A new hearing was scheduled on November 5.

The retrial was ordered by the Gostivar Appellate Court in April 2024 after a first-instance ruling reached in June 2023.

Judge Jordan Velkovski said today’s trial was cancelled due to the absence of the lawyer of one of the defendants, Artan Etemi. 

The first retrial was scheduled on June 26. It was postponed after officials of the Tetovo Hospital were a no-show. 

In 2023, the Tetovo Basic Court found Florin Besimi and Artan Etemi guilty of “severe crimes against general safety". The Tetovo hospital, as a legal entity, was found guilty of “causing general danger” and doctor Boban Vuchevski was found not guilty of “failing to act according to health regulations” and acquitted by the court.

Florin Besimi and Artan Etemi were handed down a conditional sentence of 1,6 years behind bars and put on three-year probation. The Tetovo Hospital was ordered to pay a fine of one million denars. 

Photo: MIA