The Skopje Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office announced that it has filed an indictment against a total of eight people, who are charged as co-perpetrators of the criminal offense of “Abuse of Official Position and Authority.”
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According to the Prosecutor’s Office, during 2023 and 2024, the defendants acted jointly, exceeding the limits of their specific powers and responsibilities. The actions were allegedly undertaken with the intention of causing damage to the legal entity, the Joint-Stock Company for Organizing Games of Chance “State Lottery of the Republic of North Macedonia,” in the substantial amount of 507,632,173 denars.
The defendants knew that the Joint-Stock Company for Organizing Games of Chance “State Lottery of the Republic of North Macedonia” did not have the right to organize electronic games of chance through video lottery terminals in the country. In 2013, this right had been provided as a non-monetary contribution valued at 6,244,898 euros during the establishment of the Company for Organizing Games of Chance – State Video Lottery of the Republic of Macedonia “KASINOS AUSTRIA” LLC Skopje. In return, the State Lottery had acquired a 51% stake in the company’s share capital.
Nevertheless, on 09.05.2023, the first defendant, in his capacity as general director and chairman of the Management Board of the “State Lottery,” submitted information to the third defendant, the Secretary-General of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, regarding the need to undertake activities for the independent organization of electronic games of chance.
The document, accompanied by proposed conclusions, stated that the value of the procurement amounted to 42% of the book value of the company’s assets, calculated according to its most recent financial reports. For this reason, the procurement was classified as a major transaction, the approval of which fell within the authority of the company’s Supervisory Board.
On 06.06.2023, the Secretary-General proposed adding the information to an agenda item at a government session. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, he acted contrary to Article 119, paragraph 2, of the Rules of Procedure of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, as he neither returned the document to the submitter nor forwarded it to the competent body.
The session of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, acting in the capacity of the State Lottery’s Shareholders’ Assembly, was chaired by the second defendant. As the responsible person, he had real influence over the management of the State Lottery joint-stock company and proposed the approval of the agenda item supplemented in this manner, although he was aware that adopting such a decision did not fall within the authority of the Government acting as the company’s Shareholders’ Assembly.
Following the approval of the information, the Joint-Stock Company for Organizing Games of Chance – State Lottery of the Republic of North Macedonia was instructed to undertake the necessary actions to begin independently organizing electronic games of chance, as well as to conduct the public procurement of video lottery terminals.
Although they knew that the legal procedure had not been followed, the other defendants, namely the chairman and members of the Supervisory Board, adopted a decision approving the launch of the public procurement procedure for video lottery terminals for organizing electronic games of chance, treating it as a major transaction. The public procurement was completed and financial payment obligations were created, causing the State Lottery joint-stock company damage in the aforementioned amount.
Since the first defendant remains beyond the reach of law enforcement authorities, is on the run and has neither been located nor deprived of his liberty for nearly a year, the public prosecutor has requested that he be remanded in custody for 30 days. It has been proposed that this measure take effect from the moment he is found.
For the second defendant, the continuation of the previously imposed house arrest has been requested. In addition to this measure, he had also been ordered to surrender his travel document temporarily and was prohibited from being issued a travel document or any other document for crossing the state border.
For the other defendants, the competent public prosecutor has proposed precautionary measures that include the obligation to report periodically to the Court, the temporary seizure of their travel documents or other documents for crossing the state border, as well as a ban on approaching certain individuals or establishing and maintaining contact or relations with them, the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office said in its statement./Telegrafi/
