CORRUPTION BAROMETER FOR SEPTEMBER 2023
Transparency International Macedonia continues to carry out its regular monthly activities for monitoring cases and activities related to corrupt behavior and the fight against corruption, which we’ve named “Light & Dark”
The monitoring of these cases has received significant attention, both in the public sphere and among domestic and foreign institutions, and over time, it has evolved into a relevant alternative barometer for measuring corruption and assessing the government’s willingness to address this issue.
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“DARK” OCCURRENCES FOR SEPTEMBER 2023
Is Profit overriding the Hippocratic Oath?
The police and the prosecutor’s office have launched an investigation into the Oncology Clinic
“Following the instructions of the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Skopje, with a court order secured, actions have been taken by the Ministry of Interior as part of a preliminary investigation to secure evidence that will be subject of investigation. This is aimed at examining potential indications of criminal activity at the Oncology Clinic”, the prosecutor’s office reported.
Silent Amnesty
The Government “quietly” approved the Assembly swiftly passed the amendments to the Criminal Code with 48 votes in favor
The proposed amendments to the Criminal Code, which the Government submitted to the Assembly using a fast-track procedure (with a European flag), have triggered a flurry of reactions in the public sphere. Among other things, these amendments entail a reduction in penalties in Article 353, which pertains to the “Abuse of official position and authority” provision that has commonly been used to prosecute public officials and functionaries. Additionally, there is a reduction in penalties that range from one to ten years in prison to three years. That also leads to an earlier expiration of statute of limitations for criminal offenses.
Every word has consequences. Every silence, too – Sartre
Supreme Court: Making legal changes without a transparent process goes against European standards
The Supreme Court believes that making legal changes without a transparent process through public debate and expert discussion contradicts the commitments for legislative reforms in line with European standards.
The President Pendarovski to use the right of Veto, requested by the Platform of Civil Organizations Against Corruption
The Platform has called on the President of the country, Mr.Stevo Pendarovski, to use his constitutionally guaranteed right of veto and not to sign the decree proclaiming the amendments to the Criminal Code, which the Assembly adopted on September 6, 2023.
The Prosecutor Ristoska: Changes to the Criminal Code Affect the Culture of Impunity
“The recent amendments to the Criminal Code personally feel like an affront to all professionals who have primarily invested in the fight against corruption”, said Prosecutor Ristoska. According to her, these changes will often impact corrupt criminal offenses, and a significant portion of cases in which substantial resources and effort have been invested are already subject to statute of limitations.
The activities of the SCPC continued actively this month
The State Commission for Prevent of Corruption revealed that the political party DUI has breached the law by accepting excessive donations in 2022 and delaying their return until July 2023, instead of promptly addressing the issues
The Democratic Union for Integration breached the law on the Financing of Political Parties because it received donations exceeding the legally allowed limit in 2022, and then returned the excess funds in 2023 instead of doing it immediately or within 15 days of receipt. The State Commission confirmed the violation and will request the State Audit Office, as the competent body, to take action against it.
At the bottom of dignity and integrity
Commanders from the “Idrizovo” prison bribed an inmate with 4.000 euros, promising to transfer them to works at the Ministry of Interior
The Administration for the Execution of Sanctions conducted an extraordinary inspection at the “Idrizovo” penitentiary facility following complaints from two convicted individuals, they had reported that two commanders had threatened them. In turn, these commanders reported that they had given a bribe to the one of the inmates, who had not fulfilled the promised transfer.
“LIGHT” OCCURRENCES FOR SEPTEMBER 2023
Prison sentences for university professors Shuklev and Ristevski, who demanded money and sexual favors for grades: Second verdict for “Erasmus”
The accused university professors Bobek Shuklev and Slave Ristevski from the Faculty of Economics have been sentenced to prison terms of 4 and half years and 4 years, respectively. They were convicted for demanding money and sexual services from female students in exchange for grades. Demonstrator Dragan Denkovki received a suspended sentence of 2 years, provided he does not repeat the offense within the next 5 years, as he acted as an intermediary between the students and the professors.
Greek national detained for offering a bribe
On September 10, 2023 at 20:10, at the Demir Kapija tool booth, police officers from Border Control police station in Mihailovo, under the regional center for Border Control Lug, apprehended G.K (35) from Greece for the criminal offense of offering bribe. The individual attempted to bribe the police officers and was subsequently detained.
A person from Ohrid attempted to bribe the police officers and was arrested
“On September 10, 2023 at 19:35 on the Kichevo-Gostivar highway, police officers from Kichevo Regional Police station apprehended A.J. (59) from Ohrid. After committing a traffic violation, he placed money in his personal documents, which he handed over to the police officers as a bribe”, stated the Ministry of Interior.
Corruption Barometer Light-dark
