Wiretaps played in court show judge’s wife arranging meetings with relatives of accused

In a courtroom session prosecutors played intercepted recordings that, they say, show how the wife of judge Gjoko Ristov arranged meetings between her husband and relatives of two defendants accused of serious crimes.

Prosecutor: recordings link judge’s meetings to intermediaries

Prosecutor Iskra Hadzhivasileva told the court she has already shown that the €350,000 found buried in a wall was not the same money mentioned by an earlier witness, who testified that the judge’s mother paid €400,000 for apartments that have not yet begun construction. She then presented audio intercepted under a judicial order which, according to the prosecution, reveals attempts to arrange meetings that would enable bribery.

The intercepted measures were obtained from conversations of Edin Sheapi and Ali Arifi — the father of two defendants detained and charged in the case — who were monitored on suspicion of offering a bribe to Gjoko Ristov. At the time Ristov served as an appeals court judge handling a case before the Criminal Court involving organized crime, prostitution, unlawful possession of drugs and money laundering linked to the hospitality venue "Orient."

One of the recorded exchanges dated 5 May 2025 captures Sheapi asking another man: "Will we meet with the target this week?" Sheapi answers in the recording, and Ali Arifi asks: "You alone?" The recording continues with Sheapi saying: "This week it must be finished, God willing."

The next day Sheapi requested a meeting through Simona Ristova, who — the prosecution says — acted as the intermediary. The logs and messages played in court show Sheapi texting Simona: "само да ве потсетам"; about 20 minutes later she replied: "Да, за утревечер." Sheapi then wrote: "Благодарам, се слушаме."

On 7 May the father, Ali Arifi, is heard telling an interlocutor that he was "on hold." Later messages show further coordination: at 13:00 Sheapi again messaged to remind her: "Здраво, да ве потсетам" and received the reply: "Кај Хрватска амбасада." In a later exchange the intermediary specifies a meeting "Кај кафичот."

Simona Ristova holds a public office as a State Attorney, yet the prosecution said there is no separate procedure against her behaviour or for the coded conversations in which she allegedly coordinated meetings between the judge and relatives of defendants charged with prostitution, drugs and money laundering.

The trial with new evidence is due to continue on 3 September. Defence lawyers told the court they have proposed that their client Gjoko Ristov be called for questioning.

Photo: СДК.МК)