Wiretapped conversations played in court: Judge Gjoko Ristov’s wife arranged meetings

In the courtroom prosecutors played wiretapped conversations which, the prosecutor said, show that Judge Gjoko Ristov's wife arranged meetings between her husband and the parents of two defendants charged with serious criminal offenses.

The prosecutor: the recordings show mediation for meetings

Prosecutor Iskra Hadzhivasileva said she had previously shown that the €350,000 buried in the wall was not part of the sum referenced by the witness — who said the judge's mother had paid €400,000 for apartments that have not yet begun construction. She then played audio recordings, obtained by court order, which, according to the prosecution, reveal mediation to arrange meetings that would enable taking bribes.

Special investigative measures were conducted against Edin Sheapi and Ali Arifi (the father of the two defendants), who were wiretapped on suspicion of offering a bribe to Judge Gjoko Ristov. Ristov at the time was an appellate judge handling a case from the Criminal Court concerning criminal association, prostitution, unauthorized possession of drugs and money laundering linked to the hospitality venue "Orient".

In one of the recordings from 5 May 2025, Edin Sheapi asks another man: "Will we meet the mark this week?" In the conversation Sheapi answers affirmatively, and Ali Arifi asks: "You alone?" Then Sheapi says: "This week it must be finished, God willing."

The next day Sheapi requested a meeting with Simona Ristova, who, according to the prosecution, organized the whole matter. The recordings and short messages that were played showed Sheapi sent her a message: "just to remind you"; after about 20 minutes she replied: "Yes, for tomorrow evening." Then Sheapi wrote: "Thank you, we'll be in touch."

On 7 May Ali Arifi spoke with a person and said he was "waiting." In subsequent messages Sheapi again reminded the intermediary: "Hello, just to remind you" and received the reply: "By the Croatian embassy." Later the intermediary specified the location: "By the cafe."

Simona Ristova holds public office as a state attorney, but the prosecution says there is still no special procedure against her conduct and for the encrypted conversations in which, as is claimed, she arranged meetings between the judge and the parents of the defendants in the prostitution, drugs and money laundering case.

The trial, to which new evidence was submitted, is scheduled to continue on 3 September. The defense lawyers reported they had proposed that their client Gjoko Ristov be called for questioning.

Photo: SDK.MK)