CORRUPTION BAROMETER FOR JULY 2024
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.
“DARK” OCCURRENCES FOR JULY 2024
The prosecution is investigation two candidates from the Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors – Files on one former and one current candidate from the Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors “Pavel Shatev” are among the things seized during the search in this institution, was announced by the Prosecution for Organized Crime and Corruption. The case was opened “thanks” to the data the prosecution obtained from the phone of the suspect, Supreme Court Judge Nakje Georgiev, who is already facing charges for the criminal offence of “accepting a reward for illegal influence”. The analysis of the phone, they said, led to “insights suggesting the possible commission of another criminal offense”. As a result, the case prosecutor, in order to investigate these indications, formed a case and submitted a request to the preliminary procedure judge at the Basic Criminal Court Skopje to seized two mobile phones from an employee at the Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors, as well as a video recording and two files on one former and one current candidate of the Academy, said the Prosecution.
High risk of corruption in many areas in North Macedonia, says new European Commission report – The independence of the judiciary and the institutional capacity to protect it from influence remain serious concerns, notes the European Commission’s Rule of law report for North Macedonia for 2024. The level of perceived judicial independence is very low despite judicial reforms and the new strategy aimed at improving the independence, efficiency and professionalism of the judiciary. It states that a comprehensive national anti-corruption strategy has been established, but its implementation lags behind. The high risk of corruption remains widespread in many areas.
Six members of the Parliament from the new parliamentary composition did not submit a declaration of assets to the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption – According to the data from the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption, six members of the Parliament have not submitted their asset declaration at all. Legal proceedings have been initiated against them, says the president of the Anti-Corruption Commission Tatjana Dimitrovska.
Deputy Minister in the technical Government issued 189 disputed decisions for employee assignments – A Deputy Minister in the technical Government issued 189 decisions for employee assignments, allegedly violating legal provisions. The Anti-Corruption Commission plans to initiate legal proceedings against the former official. The mentioned Deputy Minister is Nazim Bushi. According to Dimitrovska, from May 31 to June 23, 2024, Bushi issued 98 decisions for horizontal transfers, 68 for promotions, and 23 decisions that resulted in reduced basic salaries for employees. This period was marked by the election of a new Government.
Auditors produce reports, prosecutors open cases – Out of 40 cases related to audit reports, for which the State Audit Office requested data from the Prosecution less than two months ago, “oncology” is the only one in the investigation phase. Some cases have been closed due to lack of grounds for criminal prosecution, while in the most cases, checks are still ongoing. While awaiting the outcome, the Prosecution claims it is reviewing all auditors’ reports. The Public Enterprise “Railways – Infrastructure” the Public Enterprise of Maintenance and Protection of Main and Regional Roads known as “Macedonian Roads”, are currently under scrutiny by Skopje’s Prosecution. These three institutions were recently included in the reports of the State Audit Office.
“LIGHT” OCCURRENCES FOR JULY 2024
Criminal charges against five people for “Abuse of official position and authority” and against two people for “negligent work in the service” – On July 5, 2024 the Anti-Corruption unit of the Criminal investigations sector within the Department for Suppression of Organized and Serious Crime, in cooperation with the Criminal Police Department, submitted a criminal complaint to the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Skopje against: D.D.(55), M.G.(32), M.M.(64), K.V.(58) and A.D.(29), all from Skopje, on reasonable suspicion of committing the crime “Abuse of official position and authority,” as well as Z.I.(60) and B.B. (51) both from Skopje, on reasonable suspicion of committing the crime “negligent work in the service”.
Criminal charges against the director of a state student dormitory in Bitola for abusing her position and damaging the Ministry of Education and Science’s budget – The Bitola Department of Internal Affairs submitted a criminal complaint to the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office against 57-year-old E.S. from Bitola, on reasonable suspicion of committing four crimes: “abuse of official position and authority”, negligent work in the service”, “forgery of a document”, and “Use of a document with false content”, all from the Criminal Code, reported the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The accused, in her capacity as the responsible person, director of the state student dormitory in Bitola, abused her official position and authority and performed negligent work in the service. On multiple occasions, together with the former secretary of the dormitory, she left the country in a private vehicle while recording in the officials’ vehicle logs that she was at work or on official travel within the country. Furthermore, she conducted several official trips aboard in the official vehicle along with individuals who were not employed at the dormitory, without approval decisions from the Management Board- stated the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
To avoid a fine, they asked for a treat, police officers recorded taking a bribe – Three police officers from the police station “Centar” have been charged with accepting a bribe, the Ministry of Internal Affairs informed. They are suspected that on July 4, 2024, around 11:00 PM on Dame Gruev Street in Skopje, while performing their official duties, they requested and received a gift for themselves to avoid performing an official act, i.e., to not record a traffic violation, thus tarnishing the reputation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Corruption Barometer, July 2024
