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 relevant stakeholders, and over time, it has evolved into a relevant indicator for measuring corruption and assessing the government’s willingness to address this issue.
“DARK” OCCURRENCES FOR JANUARY 2025
Reforms in the Judiciary Are Necessary
Dismissed Judge from Veles and Pharmacy Chain Owners Accused of Forgery – The Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Kavadarci has filed charges against a judge from the Basic Court in Veles, a married couple who own a pharmacy chain, and a legal entity. They are accused of forging an official document and using a document with false content. The primary defendant, while handling a case in which the other accused were plaintiffs, issued a ruling in their favor, granting them ownership rights over commercial property and land beneath a building. Despite the ruling not being final or enforceable, and the defendants having filed timely appeals, the judge, deliberately influenced by the co-defendants, certified the ruling with an official stamp, falsely marking it as final and enforceable. She then personally handed over the fraudulent document to the manager of the legal entity instead of delivering it through official court channels.
Hundreds of millions of euros in budget damage, minimal asset confiscation – Over the past decade, the budget has suffered losses amounting to a total of €244 million, according to an analysis by Radio Free Europe of 30 high-profile court cases. Prosecutors requested the confiscation of assets from around ten defendants, worth approximately €62 million, but the court approved confiscations in only five cases, amounting to €49 million. The decision regarding the apartments of former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski is still pending from the Government. If the court had approved the full confiscation requested by prosecutors, the Agency for Confiscated Property would have assets worth nearly €62 million “on paper,” according to Radio Free Europe’s analysis. Out of the 30 analyzed court cases, the court ruled in only five that €49 million of the requested €62 million should be confiscated. Had these funds been recovered, the state could have, for example, covered the interest on the Hungarian loan for the first three years or built at least 30 new schools. These confiscation rulings, despite being final for years, have not yet been fully executed or collected. The cases in question include “Empire”, “The Vodno Plots”, “Trust”, and “Diamed”.
New Audit Reports from the State Audit Office (SAO): Pension and Disability Insurance Fund of North Macedonia, Protection and Rescue Directorate of North Macedonia, and Dermatology Clinic – Deficit in the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund – “Fictitious” Employments Discovered the State Audit Office conducted an audit of the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund for 2023, issuing an adverse opinion on the accuracy and objectivity of its financial position. The report highlights ongoing financial issues, including the discovery of fictitious employments. Neglected Property and Lack of National Strategy in the Protection and Rescue Directorate of North Macedonia (PRD) The audit of the Protection and Rescue Directorate of North Macedonia revealed: Unregistered properties from allocated assets, Abandoned and non-functional shelters, Outdated, non-operational, and unmaintained equipment, No national strategy for protection and rescue since 2018, Lack of criteria for purchasing firefighting equipment, Insufficient pilots for aerial firefighting, Unjustified hiring of an insurance broker for aircraft. These findings indicate significant deficiencies in emergency preparedness and resource management. Financial and operational challenges in the Dermatology Clinic– The audit identified weaknesses in healthcare service and medicine management, creating financial and operational challenges for the Dermatology Clinic. The SAO issued an adverse opinion on the accuracy and objectivity of financial reports and the compliance of transactions with legal regulations for Fund Account 737. For Own Revenue Account 531, the SAO issued an unqualified opinion on financial accuracy but a qualified opinion regarding compliance with legal regulations.
Officials ignored the warnings from the State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption
Talat Dzaferi sanctioned for holding two incompatible positions – The State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption (SCPC) sanctioned former Speaker of Parliament Talat Xhaferifor illegally holding two incompatible positions simultaneously. The case was initiated by the political party Levica, which filed a complaint in June 2024, alleging a conflict of interest. Dzaferi was serving as both Prime Minister and Member of Parliament, a violation of legal and ethical standards.
Citizens rate judicial services a “Three” – Judges satisfied, the Minister of Justice calls numbers alarming – On a scale from one to five, citizens who have participated in court proceedings—whether as parties in a case, defendants, users of administrative court services, lawyers, public prosecutors, or journalists—have rated judicial services with an average score of three. This was revealed in a survey conducted by the Coalition “All for Fair Trials” at the request of the Judges’ Association. 9% of the 1,100 respondents reported being asked for a bribe. One-third of these cases involved direct requests from judges, while the rest came from other court staff. Citizens are most dissatisfied with the speed of court proceedings, which is impacted by an increased case loadand a shortage of judges—a concern previously highlighted by the Coalition. While judges expressed satisfaction with the findings, the Minister of Justice described the numbers as concerning and indicative of deep-rooted issues in the judicial system.
“LIGHT” OCCURRENCES FOR JANUARY 2025
Police officers took bribes and shared the money: 16 people indicted in the “Premin” case –After a completed investigative procedure in the case codenamed “Premin”, the competent public prosecutor submitted an indictment against 14 individuals and a prosecution motion against two more to the Basic Criminal Court in Skopje. According to the charges, 13 customs officers, including one who is retired, and a police officer are accused of co-perpetrating the continuous criminal offense of accepting bribes, as defined and punishable under Article 357 of the Criminal Code. Additionally, nine of the accused also committed the continuous criminal offense of abuse of official position and authority under Article 353 of the Criminal Code.
Former Director of the Gazi Baba Utility Company hired fake seasonal workers – indictment filed – The Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Skopje has filed an indictment against the former acting director of the public utility company “Gazi Baba 2007” for embezzling funds through fraudulent seasonal worker contracts. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the contracts:Had the same reference number Contained only the signature of the accused Listed seasonal workers who were actually abroad during the period they were supposedly employed and paid
Asked for €150 as a “Treat” – Surgeon arrested for taking a bribe for urgery in Bitola’s Clinical Hospital – A 64-year-old surgeon from Bitola, M.S., as arrested after accepting a bribe following a gallbladder surgery performed on a patient at Bitola’s Clinical Hospital. He indirectly requested a €150 bribe from the patient’s son, stating it was “to treat himself” for the work done. The son handed the doctor an envelope with three marked €50 banknotes inside the hospital. At around 5 PM, police officers conducted a search, found the money, and arrested M.S.
Police officer took a €50 bribe for faster passport issuance: “You know we don’t work for free,” He told the victim – According to the Prosecutor’s Office, a police officer from the Foreigners and Readmission Unit was caught taking a €50 bribe from a woman who needed a new passport after losing her previous one. On January 16, the officer called the victim into his office, where he: Skipped checking for a previously lost passport report Ignored standard procedures and handed her a payment slip After paying the fee, she returned to submit the receipt. When she asked about the processing time, the officer told her it could take 6-12 months. When she objected, he rubbed his fingers together in a bribe gesture and said: “You know we don’t work for free.” She then gave him €50, and authorities later caught him in the act.
