Criminal charges filed against three people and a company for causing more than €54,000 in damage to the “Tobacco Combine

The Bitola Internal Affairs Sector has filed criminal charges against three people and a legal entity suspected of involvement in a scheme involving the sale of scrap metal. According to the authorities, the damage caused to the “Tobacco Combine” in Prilep amounts to more than 3.3 million denars, or €54,263.

The case is suspected to have begun during the first quarter of 2022. Following a verbal proposal by the then executive director, L.B., who was supposed to handle the matter, it is suspected that he took responsibility for selling the scrap materials, although this duty belonged to the waste-management officer.

According to the Interior Ministry’s statement, L.B., 59, from Prilep, was the coordinator of the security group at the “Tobacco Combine” joint-stock company during 2021/2022. During the same period, K.S., 60, served as the general executive director. The third suspect, J.D., 41, is the owner and manager of a company from the village of Small Konjari, which was authorized to purchase and sell scrap materials.

In February 2022, L.B., allegedly acting in cooperation with J.D., concealed at least 185,000 kilograms of scrap iron from the “Zavodi-Majucishte” work unit. According to the investigation, the quantity was not recorded in the accounts of the “Tobacco Combine,” but was handed over and sold to the company from Small Konjari at a price two denars higher per kilogram.

The Interior Ministry said that, instead of the payments being deposited into the account of the “Tobacco Combine” joint-stock company in Prilep, the company from the village of Small Konjari prepared fictitious purchase slips. The documents were allegedly drawn up for approximately 25,000 kilograms of iron per person, in the names of eight individuals who were close to the first suspect.

According to police, the money was then transferred to the bank accounts of seven individuals and to L.B.’s personal account. After the sums were withdrawn in cash, they were allegedly handed over to the first suspect. In total, 3,338,328 denars were transferred to the accounts of the people involved, an amount representing the damage caused to the Combine, according to the Interior Ministry. Meanwhile, the company from Small Konjari paid the “Tobacco Combine” a total of 1,274,560 denars for the scrap iron.

Criminal charges have been filed against L.B. for “embezzlement in office,” “abuse of position and official authority,” and “falsification of an official document.” K.S. is accused of “negligent performance of duties,” while J.D. is accused of “concealment” and “falsification of an official document.” The legal entity has also been charged with the criminal offense of “concealment,” the Interior Ministry said.