Skopje, 16 August 2024 (MIA) — If you have corrupt judges in the Supreme Court, you can imagine what happens below them, which is why public trust in the judiciary is two percent, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said in response to a reporter asking him to comment on the jail sentences given to Supreme Court judge Nakje Georgiev and Council of Public Prosecutors member Ixhet Memeti for corruption.

PM Mickoski said he was glad that, during the caretaker government, the police had exposed corruption even in the country's highest court.

"First, I want to express my satisfaction that the Interior Ministry in the caretaker government carried out a perfect action showing for the first time that we have corrupt judges in the highest body," Mickoski said. 

"If you have corrupt judges in the highest body, and that is the Supreme Court, then you can imagine what's going on down below. What is more, the investigation confirmed that it was not only the Supreme Judge but also another person who made an agreement with the Prosecutor's Office, and that is Ixhet Memeti," Mickoski said.

"The link between the judicial and prosecutorial system in our country is clear. That's why [public] trust is two percent. Because some notebooks from the past have been replaced by other notebooks, only these are now from Strumica, from Bihakjka street and from Rechica. As long as we have notebooks and as long as these people are not dismissed, we will not have a lawful country," Mickoski said.

The Criminal Court accepted Thursday the proposed settlement between the Public Prosecutor's Office and Georgiev, declaring him guilty for the crime of accepting a reward for unlawful influence under Art. 359 of the Criminal Code, which prescribes a prison sentence of one to ten years for the crime.

As part of the PPO deal, Georgiev agreed on a prison sentence of three years and to be banned from the bench for life. 

Previously, Memeti reached an agreement with the Prosecutor's Office, admitting he had accepted an award for illegal influence in the case in which Supreme Judge Nakje Georgiev was the primary suspect.

Memeti was sentenced to a suspended sentence and banned from office for three years. He was facing a jail sentence of one to five years. mr/