The Skopje-based Criminal Court accepted Friday the motion by the prosecutor’s office to terminate the house arrest order of former Administration for Security and Counterintelligence (UBK) director Sasho Mijalkov and replace it with effective detention.
Judge Dzheneta Begtovikj ordered the police to take Mijalkov from his residence address to the Skopje prison.
Earlier, prosecutor Lenche Ristovska asked the court to replace the house arrest of Mijalkov, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison in the “Target-Fortress” case related to the mass surveillance and destruction of the UBK equipment used for the interception of communications, with effective detention.
“Yesterday we received notifications from the Ministry of Interior and the Public Security Bureau, saying they do not have the required technical equipment for 24-hour video supervision. In addition, Europol has confirmed that Mijalkov has a residence permit in Prague and two vehicles registered in his name. Furthermore, he and members of his family own a number of companies. Therefore, he could afford a comfortable life as an escapee,” prosecutor Ristovska told the court.
The prosecution also asked for effective detention of former chief of MoI’s Fifth Administration Goran Grujovski and UBK employee Nikola Boshkoski, who were each given 15 years in prison, but since they are both escapees in Greece, the order would be effective once they are found.
Ristovska also asked for effective detention of former Mijalkov office chief Toni Jakimovski, who was sentenced to 6 years in prison.
Earlier today, the Criminal Court delivered the verdict in the “Target-Fortress” case related to the mass surveillance and destruction of the Administration for Security and Counterintelligence (UBK) equipment used for the interception of communications, including a total of 55 years imprisonment and 10 years of suspended sentences for the 11 defendants.
