Skopje, 20 June 2025 (MIA) - The Skopje-based Appellate Court held a public hearing Friday over appeals to the house arrest measure against former medical director of the Oncology Clinic, Nino Vasev, in the 'Oncology' case. The prosecution sought replacing the house arrest order with effective detention, while Vasev requested the court to defend himself from freedom.

Judge Vesna Dimishkova said the Basic Criminal Court has ordered a 30-day house arrest, considering that the defendant's presence could be ensured by house arrest, given that he is a 64-year-old pensioner, owns property, is a father of two children and has no previous convictions.

Presenting the proposal for detention, Public Prosecutor Fatime Fetai said the position of the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office Skopje is that at this stage of the procedure, having considered all the circumstances related to the criminal offences charged against the suspect, a detention order is the only guarantee for ensuring the presence of Nino Vasev and the successful implementation of the criminal procedure.

"The level of suspicion is high, and the Prosecutor's Office expects conviction for several serious crimes. However, also considering the intensity and duration, as well as the sensitivity of the specific actions," said Fetai. 

For these reasons, she added, the appeal of the Prosecution should be upheld and the appeal of the defense should be rejected as unfounded.

Nino Vasev told the court that he demands a fair trial and to defend himself from freedom.

"We demand a fair trial and the lifting of the restriction measure. We want to defend ourselves from freedom," Vasev said.

His defense attorney, Nikola Stavrev, said they had requested a public hearing, in order for the court to be directly acquainted with the case being conducted against the suspect.

"From the very moment the affair came to light, the suspect has fully cooperated with the ongoing investigation. He actively participated in the investigation and gave two statements, and the defense itself provided evidence. The defendant is familiar with the investigation and is aware at all times of the acts he is charged with, and if he had intended to, he would have fled," said Stavrev. 

"I believe the Prosecution's proposal is unfounded. The court should especially take into account his past behaviour and the status he has," Stavrev added.

The Public Prosecutor's Office (PPO) issued two indictments to the Skopje-based Criminal Court in connection with the 'Oncology' case, one related to financial aspects at the Oncology Clinic and the second on the patients' treatment, with a total of six persons indicted.

"The first and second defendants, the clinic's medical director and organizational director, are indicted of abuse of office, fraud in office and embezzlement in office, committed between 2018-2022. They failed to carry out their tasks in the drug procurement procedures, violating the laws on health protection, health insurance, the clinic's statute, the law on budgets and the law on public procurement," prosecutor Ana Gogovska Jakimovska told a press conference at the time. 

They also defrauded the Health Insurance Fund into making illicit payments of over Mden 430 million (EUR 7 million) to drug suppliers.

In addition, the first defendant, assisted by the second, obtained drug quantities through the public procurement procedures with the intention of appropriating it.

Regarding the second indictment, prosecutor Gogovska Jakimovska said four doctors-oncologists have been indicted. The first defendant is a former director of the Oncology Clinic, who alongside another doctor is charged with severe acts against people's health and malpractice, while other two are indicted of malpractice.

Photo: MIA