Artan Grubi faces trial in State Lottery abuse case

The trial regarding alleged abuses at the State Lottery (AD Državna Lotarija) has resumed at the Basic Criminal Court in Skopje. Among the defendants is former Deputy Prime Minister Artan Grubi.

The prosecution, led by public prosecutors Daniel Kotsev and Aleksandar Davchevski, alleges that Grubi and seven other individuals abused their official positions between 2023 and 2024. These actions reportedly caused damages to the State Lottery exceeding 507 million denars. The defendants face charges of misuse of official position and authority.

During the previous hearing, Judge Biljana Šuplinovska-Jovevski postponed the main debate to allow the defendants and their legal counsel sufficient time to review the evidence and prepare their defense. The prosecution intends to present 231 pieces of material evidence, various expert reports, and hear testimony from seven witnesses.

Perparim Bajrami, the former director of the State Lottery and the primary defendant, remains unavailable to law enforcement. Meanwhile, the prosecution is requesting the continuation of house arrest for Artan Grubi.