The Indictment Council at the Skopje-based Criminal Court has upheld in entirety two indictments submitted by the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Corruption, whereupon two criminal cases were launched in connection with the Kochani fire and the IPARD abuses.
The first case concerns 13 police officers, who are charged with serious crimes against public safety, related to the fire at Kochani’s Pulse nightclub.
“The decision upholds the indictment against 13 police officers, who are charged with committing a criminal offense – serious crimes against public safety, related to the fire that occurred on March 16, 2025 at the Pulse nightclub in Kochani,” reads the court statement.
The second case concerns financial fraud and bribery in connection with the European IPARD program.
“The indictment refers to five individuals for various criminal offenses, namely: giving a bribe, giving a reward for unlawful influence, receiving a reward for unlawful influence and receiving a bribe, which also includes an indictment against four other individuals and one legal entity, related to the use of funds via the IPARD program,” the Criminal Court said in a statement.
