Dejan Jovanov Deko may leave Šutka on Friday as detention deadline approaches
The detention file is still at the Prosecutor's Office; after October 3 prosecutors cannot lawfully extend his detention and the defence offered a property guarantee.
The file on the detention of Dejan Jovanov Deko remains with the Prosecutor's Office and has not been returned to the Criminal Court of Skopje with an opinion or decision, the court's president Daniela Dimovska said at a briefing with journalists today.
Dimovska said the deadline to order detention for the first accused in the Kocani Puls tragedy "expires on Friday" and that "after October 3 there is no legal possibility for a further extension of detention for Jovanov – Deko," after which the prosecution may ask the court to impose milder preventive measures.
The Prosecutor's Office has said it will inform the public once a decision is made. Defence lawyers for Deko offered a property guarantee as an additional assurance that he will not abscond. However, while the case file is still in the prosecution, the court cannot issue any ruling in the matter.
One of the related investigations examines the role of Dragan Paunov, an employee of the Public Revenue Office (UJP) and the brother of Dimovska. Asked about public perceptions that her position could influence the wider trial being held in Skopje, Dimovska stressed that a different court and prosecution are responsible for that particular case and that she is not involved in them.
"The briefing is to provide information about the work of this court (Skopje Criminal Court) and I cannot provide data about the court or the prosecution in Kočani. It is true that there is a perception that I could positively influence, however my position brings as many friends as it brings enemies. So I would not know in what condition my brother is because of my position," Dimovska said.
Court process and witness lists
Dimovska told journalists that the trial over the Kocani Puls case has held 49 hearings so far and that none of them were postponed — a contrast to delays often seen in large cases. Presentation of evidence by the prosecution has concluded, and the defence will begin presenting its evidence for 34 defendants starting tomorrow.
According to the president of the court, the defence has proposed 244 witnesses — roughly five times the number proposed by the prosecution.
Photo: press material from the event
