Skopje, 17 December 2024 (MIA) - The Skopje-based Public Prosecutor's Office says it is acting on the State Lottery case upon criminal charges filed by both the Ministry of Interior and the Financial Police Office. 

"After all the actions taken by all the competent institutions in this specific case, evidence provided so far points to a reasonable suspicion that the six people concerned have taken actions that meet the elements of a criminal offence, regarding which a procedure has been initiated. Checks continue for the remaining allegations in the reports," the Prosecutor's Office said in a press release.  

The Public Prosecutor's Office says that the criminal charges against former prime minister Dimitar Kovachevski and former secretary general Metodija Dimovski have not been dismissed.

"We note that the two persons you mention are reported for a completely different time period and for other actions, whereas the session on 06.06.2023 when the concerned decision was on the agenda, was only chaired by the current suspect," said the Prosecutor's Office.

A pretrial judge at the Skopje-based Criminal Court, upon a proposal from the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office, has ordered precautionary measures against four people involved in the investigation into the State Lottery case. The individuals are suspected of abuse of office and authority.

According to the court, the suspects have their travel documents seized, and they are ordered to regularly report to court authorities. Also, a proposal has been submitted on ordering a detention measure against two people. 

"In addition, a proposal has been submitted to a pretrial judge on ordering a detention measure against two persons involved in the same investigation, which shall be implemented from the moment they are available to law enforcement," adds the Criminal Court.  

The measures come after prosecutors on Monday ordered an investigation against two persons suspected of committing a crime of Misappropriation in Office, while four others are investigated over Abuse of Office. The two individuals, in the capacity of officials in the State Lottery, took part in actions with the intention of unlawfully acquiring assets estimated at about Mden 500 million (EUR 8.1 million) from the company's budget.

Minister of Interior Panche Toshkovski said Monday a former prime minister and first deputy PM were part of the investigation into the State Lottery case.

"Criminal charges have been pressed against eight individuals, including a former PM, a former deputy PM, a former director of the company and a former secretary general. Two persons are currently not available to law enforcement," Minister Toshkovski told a press conference.

Photo: MIA archive