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Skopje: A Supreme Court judge is arrested, suspected of bribery

2024-05-21 10:19:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Skopje: A Supreme Court judge is arrested, suspected of bribery

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The Judicial Council of North Macedonia has decided to remove the immunity of a judge of the Supreme Court, who was arrested on Monday night under the suspicion of having received around 10,000 euros in bribes.

"The judge was deprived of his liberty while committing the criminal offense", said the Ministry of Internal Affairs of North Macedonia (MIA) in a communiqué.

According to the Police, judge Naqe Georgiev is suspected of the criminal offense of "receiving a reward for illegal influence".

It is suspected that he had promised mitigating measures in a judicial procedure against the former mayor of the municipality of Novosella, Boro Stoj?ev, who was arrested some time ago for smuggling narcotics.

The Judicial Council – which is the highest judicial body for appointing and evaluating the work of judges – lifted Georgiev's immunity and approved the request for his detention.

"The Judicial Council removed the immunity of the judge of the Supreme Court of RSM, in order for the criminal procedure to proceed smoothly; approved the request for the approval of detention presented by the judge of the preliminary procedure in the Basic Criminal Court of Skopje and temporarily removed the judge of the Supreme Court from exercising his judicial function, until the end of the criminal procedure", the announcement of the Judicial Council states.

The arrest of the Supreme judge happened at a time when North Macedonia is facing numerous criticisms for a corrupt and inefficient judiciary.

The current composition of the Assembly of North Macedonia, on September 6, 2023, had approved the amendments to the Criminal Code that led to the release from criminal prosecution as well as the reduction of the sentence of dozens of former high-ranking officials accused of serious criminal offenses.

According to the public opinion research by the International Republican Institute (IRI), only one percent of the citizens of North Macedonia have faith in the judicial power./ REL