Skopje, 30 December 2024 (MIA) - The former head of the Directorate for Technological-Industrial Development Zones (DTIDZ), Jovan Despotovski, is the primary suspect in a case formed by the Skopje-based Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office against eight individuals due to suspicions of abuse of official position and authorization.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the primary suspect, alongside three officials from the Public Procurements Bureau and four people from the State Commission for Public Procurement Appeals enabled a legal entity to illegally obtain assets of Mden 622.981.190 (EUR 10 million).

The Office said the primary suspect published a public procurement call for the construction of infrastructure in TIDZ Shtip and TIDZ Strumica. Two economic operators submitted bids, one of which offered a higher price but a shorter construction deadline and was chosen. The three individuals from the Bureau failed to accomplish their task to control the tender documentation and delivered a report with which they allowed the procedure to continue.

The second bidder submitted a complaint to the State Commission for Public Procurement Appeals, but the head of the commission and three members dismissed the complaint.  

According to the Office, by not carrying out their official authorizations, the suspects contributed to the legal entity winning the bid on the basis of an unrealistic deadline that it failed to meet, at a significantly higher price than its competitor.  

The Office said it requested the temporary seizure of assets and objects to secure them for future confiscation. It has also proposed the freezing of assets in Karposh and Kisela Voda, a ban on using funds from four accounts and a ban on the management of vehicles owned by the legal entity.

Additionally, upon proposal by a public prosecutor, the Basic Criminal Court in Skopje has seized the passport of the suspect who headed the Directorate when the crime was committed.

Photo: MIA Archive