Investigation at 32 locations in Skopje into the falsification and illegal registration of driving licences

The Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Skopje has launched searches at 32 locations, including homes, individuals and official premises of the Ministry of Interior, as part of an investigation into the falsification of driving licences.

The investigation concerns suspicions of the criminal offense of “Document forgery,” provided for under Article 378 of the Criminal Code. The Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Skopje said that further actions are also being carried out to collect and secure evidence.

The Ministry of Interior also previously confirmed that it had launched a new operation to investigate the illegal issuance and falsification of driving licences. According to the Ministry of Interior, the operation is ongoing with the aim of shedding light on the cases and securing material evidence.

Today’s operation is linked to an investigation launched last month by the Ministry of Interior’s Internal Control Department. During that investigation, it was established that employees of the administrative services, in exchange for around 1,400 euros, had unlawfully registered categories C and D on the driving licences of people who had not taken the examinations required to drive trucks or buses.

The information available so far raises suspicions that some citizens bypassed the entire required procedure. Instead of attending training sessions and taking the examinations, they allegedly obtained the direct addition of the category to their driving licences in exchange for payment.