From 16 to 20 Years in Prison: Appellate Court Increases Sentence for Ilija Panov

The Appellate Court in Skopje accepted the appeal of the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office (PPO) in Kavadarci and increased the prison sentence from 16 years to 20 years for the Kavadarci resident Ilija Panov (44), who in January 2025 killed his extramarital partner Suzana Serenakova (52), the Kavadarci prosecutor's office confirmed.

In the first-instance trial before the Basic Court in Kavadarci, Panov was sentenced to 16 years in prison. After the prosecution's appeal, the Appellate Court in Skopje decided to increase the sentence to 20 years.

The convicted also appealed the length of the imposed sentence.

The indictment and the facts related to the case

Panov was accused that at an unspecified moment between 20 and 22 January 2025, he killed Serenakova from Kavadarci. According to the indictment, the crime was committed in the apartment where Serenakova had been staying on Gjuro Salaj Street in Kavadarci, where her daughter found her dead.

In December 2025 Panov was found guilty of murder committed during domestic violence. For the criminal offense he was tried for, Murder under Article 123, paragraph 2, point 2 of the Criminal Code, life imprisonment is prescribed.

Photo: SDK.MK