Skopje, 21 December 2023 (MIA) - In the concluding remarks on Thursday at the Skopje-based Criminal Court, the defense for the second accused, Remzi Miftari, and the third accused, Igor Gjorgievski, in the 'Laskarci' bus crash case, appealed for an acquittal verdict for the defendants.

Lawyer Suzana Abdurahimi, defending the second accused Remzi Miftari, responsible for transportation at 'Durmo Tours,' argued that none of the evidence presented establishes the fulfillment of the key elements of the charges against the defendant.

In addition, lawyer Ruzha Tomeska, representing the third accused, Igor Gjorgievski, also highlighted that the public prosecutor did not provide conclusive evidence beyond a reasonable doubt regarding Gjorgievski's alleged involvement, urging an acquittal verdict.

The defense for the fourth accused, Goran Dukovski, the fifth accused, Jane Bovarski, and the sixth accused, Manoil Trifunovski, will present their closing arguments after the break.

At the last hearing, the public prosecutor, Darko Jakimovski, and the defense team for the first accused, the owner of 'Durmo Tours,' Durmish Beluli, presented their closing statements. Jakimovski sought imposition of severe penalties for the defendants regarding the bus accident in 2019 near the village of Laskarci.

Facing charges in the case of the ‘Laskarci’ bus accident on 13 February 2019, are Durmish Beluli, owner of 'Durmo Tours,' responsible for transportation, Remzi Miftari, and the bus driver, Manoil Trifunovski. They are charged with committing serious offenses against the safety of people and property in traffic.

The trial is presided over by the judge Diana Gruevska Ilievska.

Photo: MIA