Extortion and money laundering investigation in Kumanovo: two suspects detained and measures imposed on two others

Two suspects in the investigation into criminal association, money laundering and extortion in Kumanovo will be held in detention for up to 30 days, while house arrest and precautionary measures have been imposed on two others. The decisions concerning the four individuals were made by a pre-trial judge at the Basic Criminal Court in Skopje at the request of the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office for the Prosecution of Organized Crime and Corruption.

According to the court, the public prosecutor’s requests were approved after the suspects were heard in the presence of their defense lawyers. D.P. and M.K. were ordered detained for up to 30 days under Article 165, paragraph 1, points 1, 2 and 3 of the Criminal Procedure Law. The grounds cited were the risk of flight, the possibility of repeating or completing the criminal offense, and the risk of obstructing the investigation by influencing witnesses.

The judge placed L.K. under house arrest. Precautionary measures imposed on D.Zh. provide for the confiscation of their travel document and prohibit the issuance of a new document for crossing the state border.

The public prosecutor’s request also concerns another person who is currently unavailable to law enforcement authorities, the Basic Criminal Court in Skopje said. The parties may appeal the decisions to the court’s Criminal Council.

Earlier, the Interior Ministry had announced criminal complaints against five people for “extortion” and “money laundering and other proceeds from a criminal offense.” The complaints followed a coordinated police operation carried out yesterday by the Interior Ministry’s Department for the Suppression of Organized and Serious Crime, under the direction of a public prosecutor from the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office for the Prosecution of Organized Crime and Corruption. The operation targeted a five-member organized criminal group from Kumanovo.

According to the Interior Ministry, D.P. (37), L.K. (73), M.K. (27) and D.Zh. (43), all from Kumanovo, were arrested during the operation. The fifth suspect, Z.R. (35), remains unavailable to law enforcement authorities.