Skopje, 17 December 2024 (MIA) - After the Skopje-based Criminal Court ordered 30-day detainment for former Deputy Prime Minister Artan Grubi and the former head of State Lottery, Perparim Bajrami, as part of the investigation into misappropriation of funds at the State Lottery, the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Skopje is set to order the Interior Ministry to issue national and international arrest warrants for the two suspects, the Public Prosecutor’s Office of North Macedonia said in a press release Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the Criminal Court ordered 30-day detainment for Artan Grubi and Perparim Bajrami, who are currently not available to law enforcement.

“Following a notice from the Interior Ministry that the two individuals are not available to law enforcement, the Criminal Court decided to accept the prosecution’s proposal for detention and has ordered a 30-day detention,” the Criminal Court said.

Earlier on Tuesday, a pretrial judge at the Skopje-based Criminal Court ordered precautionary measures against four other people involved in the investigation into the State Lottery case, who are suspected of abuse of office and authority.

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.

Photo: MIA Archive