During today’s hearing, the Prosecutor’s Office presented data obtained from the phone of Gjoko Ristov, a former appeals court judge suspected of hiding 350,000 euros inside the wall of his parents’ house in Negotino. Prosecutor Iskra Haxhiasilevska said that Ristov had communicated with people who had active cases before him, while in other instances he had inquired about proceedings handled by his colleagues.
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Among the people with whom Ristov communicated was Ismet Guri, a former deputy director of the Public Revenue Office, who was sentenced for destroying election material and later became involved in the July 2024 investigation into criminal association. The Prosecutor’s Office also announced that he had communicated with Bojan Jovanovski, known as Boki 13, who was convicted in the “Racket” case.
In some of the messages read out in court, Ristov inquired about a case before Judge Enver Bexheti, who was recently placed on the U.S. blacklist for corruption. Ristov told him that he had asked a colleague from the administration, as she had a family connection to him, specifically that she was his sister. In another message, an unidentified person asked Ristov about a case before a female judge named Bukurie. Ristov replied that she was on vacation and that she would review the case after her return.
The Prosecutor’s Office also presented the register of contacts saved on Ristov’s phone, clarifying that there had been no communication with these people, but only that their numbers had been registered. The list includes Vice, the brother of former SDSM leader Zoran Zaev, as well as Ana, the wife of businessman Orce Kamchev. It also includes BDI MP and owner of Pucko Petroll Ismail Jahoski, his son Asmir Jahoski, businessman Zoran Azmanov, and former SDSM MP Frosina Remenski.
Fehmi Stafa and Lupcho Pecov, known as the Devil, also appear on this list. Stafa was sentenced to 15 months in prison after taking 50,000 euros from a family member of the “Devil” in order to bribe Judge Ristov and have the detention order revoked in the “Chain” case.
According to Prosecutor Iskra Haxhivasileva, Ristov should not have had such contacts in his capacity as a judge, especially since active proceedings were underway against some of the people in question.
“According to our assessments, the contacts and communications of the appeals court judge with people against whom, as you saw for yourselves, active cases and proceedings have been and are being conducted are impermissible,” said Iskra Haxhivasileva, Prosecutor.
The defense, meanwhile, argues that keeping telephone contacts does not constitute a violation in the absence of evidence proving that a crime was committed.
“Yes, these people were in his phone. They were. Macedonia is a small country, but if it is claimed that he should not have had them in his phone or that this is suspicious, evidence must be presented of what he did with these people,” said Zvonko Davidoviq, attorney for Gjoko Ristov.
The expert who analyzed the financial income of Ristov and his family members also testified at today’s hearing. The Prosecutor’s Office maintains that the former judge’s income is insufficient to explain the origin of the 350,000 euros found hidden in the wall. The defense disputes this position, saying that Ristov and his wife received 617,000 euros from 2016 to 2024, while his parents had income of 917,000 euros. Part of this money was used to purchase apartments, while the defense’s requested expert analysis is expected to provide explanations regarding the remainder. /Alsat/
