VMRO-DPMNE official Bojan Stojanoski broadly outlined the growing scandal, in which officials of the state tax authority UJP and top political leaders are suspected of running a tax fraud ring.

According to Stojanoski, who did not name names durign today’s press conference, the process included setting up bogus companies that would seek reimbursement of allegedly paid taxes. After receiving the money they were not entitled to, the companies would quickly change ownership, transfer the funds outside of the country and be shut down.

The state budget has been harmed and it is unlikely that the money will be returned without an extensive judicial process.  The system of controls failed. This criminal network used fictitious payment slips to pump money from the budget, while all oversight institutions ignored them, Stojanoski said.