Perparim Bajrami surrenders and is detained in State Lottery case
Bajrami, wanted since December 2024, turned himself in today; prosecutors have widened estimated damage to about 596 125 511 denars.
Former State Lottery director Perparim Bajrami surrendered to law enforcement authorities this morning and has been detained, media reports say. The Ministry of Interior has not yet released an official statement about the arrest.
Background and judicial status
An international arrest warrant for Bajrami was issued in December 2024. He and former first deputy prime minister and senior Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) official Artan Grubi are among the principal suspects in the State Lottery case, originally linked to alleged abuses totaling 8,2 million euros.
On February 23 of this year, Artan Grubi — who had been on the run for more than a year — appeared at the Kosovo–North Macedonia border upon entering the country and was immediately detained. The court decided that Bajrami should be tried in absentia while he was at large; his defence in that procedure was arranged by a lawyer engaged by his sister, Vjolca Bajrami.
Prosecutors detailed the charges at the most recent hearing. Bajrami, Grubi and six others are accused of abuse of official position and authority in connection with an unlawful procurement of video-lottery terminals to operate electronic games of chance. According to the indictment, the defendants exceeded their official powers during 2023 and 2024, despite knowing that the State Lottery did not have the right to independently organise electronic games of chance on video-lottery terminals.
In a revision of the indictment following expert analysis, prosecutors increased the estimated damage: instead of 507 623 173 denars or 8,2 million euros, the accused are now charged with causing damage of about 596 125 511 denars or 9,7 million euros.
Other defendants in the case include former General Secretary of the Government Metodija Dimovski, as well as Skender Mehmeti, Bojan Janev, Fatmir Ramadanovski, Aleksandar Dimitrioski and Bashkim Avdiu, who served as members of the Lottery's Supervisory Board at the time the Skopje Basic Public Prosecutor's Office says the abuses took place.
Photo: Принтскрин
