Macedonia orders 30‑day detention for former customs chief Stefan Bogojev and three others

Skopje’s Basic Criminal Court approved a 30‑day pre‑trial detention for former director of the Customs Administration Stefan Bogojev and three co‑accused (identified as D. G., A. S. and S. M.). The measure was imposed at the request of the prosecutor’s office on grounds of suspected abuse of public procurement procedures, awarding of contracts, and receiving and giving bribes. Prosecutors allege that between July 2023 and March 2024 the suspects manipulated a tender for cleaning services at border crossings, favoring a specific operator and securing an illegal gain of 18,479,692 Macedonian denars, with Bogojev allegedly receiving a bribe of 111,600 denars. The court rejected the defendants’ monetary guarantees and ordered detention to prevent flight risk or witness tampering.

The case reflects ongoing anti‑corruption actions in Macedonia, targeting former senior officials accused of misusing public procurement and engaging in corrupt practices.