Skopje, 11 March 2025 (MIA) - A prosecutor at the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office for Prosecuting Organized Crime and Corruption has submitted a proposal Tuesday to a pre-trial judge at the Skopje-based Criminal Court to order a detention measure for five people in the case related to the suspicious procurement of oil derivatives.

“Considering the circumstances and the seriousness of the crime, a prosecutor at the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office for Prosecuting Organized Crime and Corruption has submitted a proposal to a pre-trial judge at the Basic Criminal Court in Skopje to order detention for five people, with the measure being implemented for one person after the individual is found by the authorities. One person who is also suspected in the case ‘Additive’ is already in detention, while a measure to secure their presence has been proposed for the remaining suspects,” the Prosecutor’s Office said on Tuesday.

Searches were carried out Monday and Tuesday in several locations in Skopje, Veles and Kichevo as part of an operation which saw 11 people arrested following a months-long preliminary investigation into a case formed upon an initiative by the State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption.

“During the searches, documents, five mobile phones, about 1,500 pieces of ammunition from different caliber, two guns and three motor vehicles have been discovered so far,” said the Interior Ministry in a press release on Tuesday.

The Prosecutor’s Office said a prosecutor ordered an investigation into 13 natural persons and one legal entity following charges filed by the Interior Ministry for organized crime, abuse of power and money laundering.

Photo: MIA Archive