English
A pre-trial judge at the Basic Criminal Court Skopje, acting upon a proposal by the Public Prosecutor from the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Prosecuting Organized Crime and Corruption to order detention for D.J. from Kočani—and having heard the suspect in the presence of his defense counsel, as well as having assessed the facts and evidence submitted with the proposal—issued a ruling granting the request and ordering detention for a period of 30 days.
Detention was ordered based on the grounds set forth in Article 165, Paragraph 1, Items 1 and 2 of the Law on Criminal Procedure (LCP)—specifically, the risk of the suspect fleeing and a reasonable fear that he might obstruct the investigation by influencing witnesses.
The detention measure takes effect on October 3, 2026, given that the individual is currently already serving a detention order in connection with the case regarding the fire at the “Puls” nightclub.
In the newly opened investigation for which detention was proposed, D.J. is suspected of committing the criminal offense of “Giving a Bribe” under Article 358, Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code. Given that the suspect was serving the detention measure ordered in the “Puls” case at the Kumanovo Penitentiary—having originally been remanded by the Basic Court of Kumanovo—he will now be transferred to Skopje Prison to serve the newly ordered detention measure, in accordance with the Rulebook on the Execution and Serving of Measures to Ensure Presence.
Regarding the proposal by D.J.’s defense to revoke the previously ordered detention in the “Puls” case—which included an offer of bail in the form of real estate valued at approximately €200,000—the defense withdrew the motion today; furthermore, as statutory provisions allow this detention to last for one year following the review of the indictment, the current detention period expires tomorrow.