A Skopje judge ordered that top SDSM party official Frosina Remenski is sent into house arrest, as the investigation proceeds into her role in the major racketeering scandal. Initially the prosecutors asked only that her passport is seized, but the decision today will see the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament and the former SDSM party deputy leader confined to her house.

Remenski was the honorary President of the International Association, a bogus charity set up by showman Bojan Jovanovski – Boki 13, apparently to extort money from businesses who he threatened with his ties to the SDSM led Government and to Special Prosecutor Katica Janeva. The charity was also offering a carrot – potentially very lucrative investment opportunities in coordination with SDSM appointed mayors in desirable municipalities.

Boki 13’s father Mile Jovanovski was also sent into house arrest, as was the deputy head of the International Association Jasna Mandik, who was taken before the judge yesterday. A fourth person tied to the organization had the passport taken away.