Skopje, 7 February 2025 (MIA) — The Skopje Appellate Court has changed the Skopje Criminal Court's ruling in the case of Vasil Jovanov who had been found guilty of manufacturing and selling narcotic drugs and sentenced to juvenile detention – and later drove under the influence and killed a pedestrian. 

The court rejected Jovanov's appeal as unfounded and accepted the appeal of the Skopje Primary Public Prosecutor's Office, the Appellate Court said in a press release.

"The ruling of the Skopje Primary Criminal Court, K. No. 1439/24 of July 31, 2024, was modified regarding the criminal sanction," the Appellate Court release said, adding that Jovanov's two previous sentences of one year and of three years at a correctional facility have been changed into a single prison sentence of three years and ten months.

He had been found guilty of the criminal offense of Unauthorized production and release for trade of narcotics, psychotropic substances and precursors, under Article 215 of the Criminal Code.

On Jan. 29, Jovanov drove under the influence and killed 22-year-old Frosina Kulakova in downtown Skopje. mr/