Artan Grubi faces trial for State Lottery corruption case

Artan Grubi State Lottery Skopje Basic Court abuse of office North Macedonia

The trial of former First Deputy Prime Minister Artan Grubi and seven others has commenced at the Basic Criminal Court in Skopje. The defendants are accused of abuse of official position and authority, causing approximately 8.2 million euros (507,632,173 denars) in damage to the State Lottery of the Republic of North Macedonia during 2023 and 2024.

According to the indictment, the accused allegedly procured unnecessary video lottery terminal (VLT) machines that were never used. The prosecution contends that the State Lottery lacked the legal right to independently organize electronic games of chance on such terminals.

Artan Grubi is currently under house arrest. The first defendant, former State Lottery director Perparim Bajrami, remains a fugitive and is wanted under an international warrant. Other defendants include former Government Secretary Metodija Dimovski and members of the State Lottery's Supervisory Board.

Judge Biljana Shuplinovska-Jovevski is presiding over the case. The initial hearing was postponed to allow the defense to review the extensive evidence, which includes 231 material documents and seven oral testimonies. Subsequent hearings are scheduled throughout September and October.

Entities

Artan Grubi · Biljana Shuplinovska-Jovevski · Metodija Dimovski · Perparim Bajrami · Skopje · Skopje Basic Public Prosecutor's Office · State Lottery · State Lottery of North Macedonia · State Lottery of the Republic of North Macedonia

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 21 SOURCES] Former State Lottery director Perparim Bajrami remains a fugitive and is wanted under an international warrant. lokalno.mk · ohridsky.com · www.qendra.info · vesti.alfa.mk · tetova1.mk · +11 more
[● 10 SOURCES] The State Lottery lacked the legal right to independently organize electronic games of chance on VLT terminals. www.qendra.info · tetova1.mk · lajmpress.org · zhurnal.mk · zurnal.mk · +4 more
[● 23 SOURCES] The defendants are accused of causing 507,632,173 denars (approximately 8.2 million euros) in damage to the State Lottery. lokalno.mk · beta.rs · ohridsky.com · www.qendra.info · vesti.alfa.mk · +13 more
[● 22 SOURCES] Judge Biljana Shuplinovska-Jovevski will preside over the trial. www.qendra.info · tetova1.mk · lajmpress.org · zhurnal.mk · zurnal.mk · +12 more
[● 22 SOURCES] The Skopje Basic Public Prosecutor's Office filed an indictment against Artan Grubi and seven others. lokalno.mk · ohridsky.com · www.qendra.info · tetova1.mk · lajmpress.org · +13 more
[● 15 SOURCES] Former First Deputy Prime Minister Artan Grubi is currently under house arrest. lokalno.mk · ohridsky.com · vesti.alfa.mk · racin.mk · www.qendra.info · +6 more
[● 9 SOURCES] The accused allegedly procured VLT terminals for the State Lottery that were unnecessary and never used. www.qendra.info · tetova1.mk · lajmpress.org · zhurnal.mk · zurnal.mk · +3 more
[● 21 SOURCES] The defendants are charged with abuse of official position and authority, a crime carrying a maximum sentence of five years. lokalno.mk · beta.rs · ohridsky.com · www.qendra.info · vesti.alfa.mk · +12 more