Skopje, 1 April 2025 (MIA) - The Prosecutor's Office for organized crime and corruption has opened an investigation against a member of Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski's security detail, who is suspected of disclosing an official secret for the purpose of obtaining EUR 50,000 from the person impacted by the documents.

The prosecutor's office said in a press release on Tuesday that the persons or documents in the case are not linked to the Grchec criminal enterprise, as previously reported by some media outlets.

On March 30, the suspect met with a person in a Veles hotel parking lot and allowed him to take photos of the documents. In this way, he disclosed these official documents with the intention of obtaining EUR 50,000 from the person affected by these materials, said the prosecutor's office.

Considering the circumstances, the public prosecutor submitted a motion for a 30-day detention, which a pre-trial judge has approved.

The suspect, Angel Saramakov, has already been transferred to the Skopje detention facility, its director Boban Utkovski told MIA.

On Monday, the Ministry of Interior said a vehicle was searched in a parking lot in front of a Veles hotel a day earlier. A backpack containing official MoI documents and mobile phones were seized during the search, whereas Saramakov and another individual were detained.

Searches were also carried out at other locations, with electronic devices, official documents and other items relevant for the investigation seized in the process. During the inspection, the MoI found that the police officer acted contrary to the ministry's regulations by unlawfully holding the official materials, which were disclosed to third parties.

Following the arrest, the Government said an investigation would ascertain the facts, while adding that the PM's safety was not at risk.

Opposition party SDSM has said that the MoI "was forced to make the case public under the pressure by media, which found out the truth".

MIA file photo