Public Prosecutor's Office rejects defence bid to call Pulse owner Dejan Jovanov and his son

The Public Prosecutor's Office rejected defence requests to call Pulse nightclub owner Dejan Jovanov and his son Mihajlo Jovanov as witnesses in the trial of nine police officers accused of alleged shortcomings during inspections and in issuing approvals for the hospitality venue.

At the hearing in the Basic Criminal Court in Skopje, public prosecutor Spasenka Andonova, after the defence presented extensive evidentiary lists, argued the suggested witnesses were irrelevant to the charges and should not be admitted.

Defence rationale and prosecution response

Defence lawyers told the court that testimony from the Jovanovs would show that "Dejan Jovanov did not receive pay for several months," a point they said was material to the case. The prosecution countered that such testimony does not connect to the core allegations in the indictment.

Prosecutor Andonova emphasised that "the focus of the indictment is much broader," saying the proposed witnesses do not have a bearing on the essential elements the court must examine.

The proceeding continues at the Basic Criminal Court in Skopje as the parties sort through the evidence and outstanding motions in the case against the nine police officers.

Photo: press material from the event