The Skopje Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO) has issued an order to initiate an investigation against an individual reasonably suspected of committing the criminal offense accepting a bribe under Article 357, Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code.
NetPress reported on the detention of an inspector from the Food and Veterinary Agency (FVA). According to initial findings, she had solicited a bribe from the owner of a hospitality establishment in Skopje in exchange for not imposing a fine.
The operation was carried out by the Ministry of Interior’s Department for the Suppression of Organized and Serious Crime, in coordination with the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office (BPPO) in Skopje, following a report filed by the owner.
“The suspect, a 42-year-old employee of the Food and Veterinary Agency (FVA) acting in her official capacity as a food inspector, solicited and accepted a bribe of 250 euros from the manager of a business entity between September 17 and 25. She did so in exchange for drafting an inspection report stating that she had conducted an inspection and found no operational irregularities, essentially confirming that the establishment was complying with all necessary operating procedures,” the Skopje Public Prosecutor’s Office said in a press release Saturday.
The public prosecutor submitted a proposal to the pre-trial judge to order detention due to the risk of flight, the danger that the suspect might influence the injured party and his testimony, and the possibility that, in her capacity as an official (inspector), she might repeat the act she was prohibited from committing, reads the press release.