Shtip, 21 November 2025 (MIA) - A pre-trial judge at the Kochani Basic Criminal Court has ordered house arrest for two tax inspectors from Shtip as part of a corruption case in relation to the ‘Pulse’ nightclub in Kochani, where a fire in March claimed the lives of 63 people and left around 200 injured.

Precautionary measures have been ordered for six suspects involved in the investigation, as well as an additional precautionary measure for one individual.

The decisions were made after the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Kochani initiated an investigation into 11 individuals over crimes involving corruption in the operation of the nightclub.

According to a press release published Thursday by the Kochani-based Public Prosecutor’s Office, as part of the investigation two tax inspectors are suspected of receiving bribes in order to disclose information about unannounced controls in the nightclub by the tax authorities, whereas the son of the nightclub owner is suspected of giving the bribes.

Six individuals - tax inspectors and heads of regional offices of the Public Revenue Office (PRO) in Shtip and Strumica - are suspected of abuse of office by ensuring that 'MMMM Café" and the "Pulse" nightclub evade tax controls and operate without issuing fiscal bills.

The "Pulse" owner, who is already in detention over the fatal nightclub fire, is suspected of falsifying a document, presenting altered fiscal cash registers during PRO controls, in order to avoid fines and shutdowns.

A State Market Inspectorate inspector, who is also a defendant in the "Pulse" case, is suspected of disclosing an official secret by tipping the owners about the unannounced controls.

Photo: MIA