Skopje, 10 December 2024 (MIA) - The police, in coordination with the Public Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime and Corruption, is conducting Tuesday an operation in Veles, Negotino, Bitola, Kichevo and Skopje, related to 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.

The operation involves 29 individuals, including former REK Bitola manager Vasko Kovachevski, who is charged with 'malpractice of office' but is currently out of country, and Ardian Mucha, former board member at Power Plants of North Macedonia (ESM), who is suspected of abuse of office. Precautionary measures, not detention, are requested for both.

A 30-day detention is requested for eight persons, home arrest for one, while precautionary measures for 14.  

MIA learns that the police seized EUR 130,000 in cash during the operation.

The unlawfully acquired assets from the period of the procurement (2022) until present are to be frozen.

The suspects include Dancho Stojanovski from Veles, organizer of the additives' procurement procedure for REK Bitola, Maja Jordanova, signatory of the procurement agreement, former ESM manager Vasko Stefanov, former REK Bitola manager Pece Matevski, and several others suspected for money laundering.

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski was quizzed by reporters about the operation, saying he has been briefed by Minister of Interior Panche Toshkovski and Public Security Bureau director Aleksandar Janev that this is an organized group including high-level company leadership.

"A lot of evidence has been obtained but I will leave this to the prosecutor's office and courts, but we have to consider the presumption of innocence. However, judging by the findings, things are rather disturbing," said Mickoski.

MIA file photo