Skopje, 19 March 2025 (MIA) - The Skopje-based Criminal Court ordered Wednesday a 30-day detention for seven police officers from Shtip and Kochani, suspected of grave crimes against general safety, related to issuance of compliances for the operation of the “Pulse” nightclub in Kochani.

The court accepted Basic Prosecutor's Office motion for detention due to a flight risk, influencing witnesses and circumstances that point to a repeat of the crime, said the Criminal Court in a press release.

Parties have the right to a complaint over the court's decision.

Earlier in the day, Minister of Interior Panche Toshkovski told a press conference that the officers, as officials at the Shtip and Kochani police, enabled the legal entity to acquire a license for a cabaret, by drafting, signing and providing a positive opinion, even though the building did not meet the legal conditions for that.

“Together, the suspects have caused significant risk to human lives and physical health, by allowing the cabaret to operate in substandard conditions which led to the death of 59 people, and caused 196 to suffer serious bodily harm,” Toshkovski said.

Photo: MIA