The defense of the first defendant in the Pulse nightclub fire in Kochani, the owner of the burned-down club DejanJovanovDeko, requested from the court that his detention be replaced with a measure of house arrest due to the serious and alarming deterioration of his health condition.
The owner’s defense attorney IvanaKocevska, before the start of Monday’s hearing into the fire case, stated that “the measure of detention does not correspond to the purpose, this is not a measure to ensure presence, but a punishment before trial”.
“Improvised treatment in prison conditions guarantees catastrophic consequences due to the inadequate conditions, especially when his health is continuously deteriorating,”said lawyer Kocevska.
Sheadded that the court was familiar with the defendant’s health condition, and emphasized that he was taken from the hospital to Monday’s hearing with an open wound after surgery.
Judge DijanaGruevskaIlievski said that the court was very familiar with the defendant’s health condition and, due to urgency, with his consent, he was taken for surgery on Friday.
“All the doctors there said that three days of rest were necessary. Three days have passed and that is why he was brought today. We do not have such information from the prison doctor, and we are acting accordingly,” said GruevskaIlievski.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO) said that they have heard the allegations and after reviewing the documentation at the end of Monday’s hearing will decide whether to make a statement or do so in writing.
The fire in the Kochani-based Pulse nightclub broke out on March 16, 2025 during a performance by the music band DNK and is one of the most serious tragedies in the country’s recent history. Monday’s hearing continues the evidentiary procedure by questioning witnesses at the proposal of the Prosecutor’s Office, which is represented by a team of 15 public prosecutors.
