Five years since the tragic fire at Tetovo Modular Hospital, 14 victims

Five years have passed since the fire that engulfed the Modular Hospital in Tetovo, a tragedy in which 14 people lost their lives, while dozens of others were injured.

Among the victims were 12 patients hospitalized for Covid-19 treatment, as well as two of their relatives.

After a lengthy legal process, Florian Besimi and Artan Etemi, the directors of Tetovo Hospital, were sentenced to three years in prison each for serious offenses against public safety. Meanwhile, the Clinical Hospital, as a legal entity, was fined 1.3 million euros.

In August this year, the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Prosecuting Organized Crime and Corruption (PPO GOKK) concluded its investigation into the public procurement procedure for the construction of 19 modular hospitals in Macedonia. According to the prosecution’s assessment, no grounds were found for suspicions of abuse of official position and authority or of any other criminal offense prosecuted ex officio.