Seven of the 11 defendants in the “Dvojnik” (Doppelganger)case received 16 years and 1 month in prison in the first-instance ruling, with defendant Faruk Buki getting a 3-year prison term, while Vesna Kolevska and Branislava Spishikj receiving provisional sentences on Friday.
Prior to today’s ruling, Denis Barufi was given a 2y7m prison term, Alek Lichina – 2y3m, Raif Miftari – 2y3m, Gjorgje Velkov – 2y, Oliver Sofronieva – 2y5m and Shemsedin Jashari – 1y7m, after they all admitted guilt for crime “abuse of office”.
Eleven individuals, ten of whom employed in the MoI Administrative Affairs Department, were charged with issuing passports under false identities to 214 foreign and one Macedonian national in the period between June 2017 and the end of 2020.
Defendants have the right to an appeal of the first-instance ruling to the Skopje-based Appeals Court.
