Macedonia's special prosecution launches seven probes against 17 officials

SKOPJE, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Seven investigations involving 17 suspects for abuse of office, fraud and other crimes were launched Tuesday by Macedonia's Special Prosecutor Office (SPO), Prosecutor Fatime Fetai told a press conference.

Two former officials of the Macedonian Interior Ministry, a former MP, a former health minister, a former minister of agriculture, forestry and water economy, leaders of two political parties who were wiretapped in a conversation over the destruction of an illegally building, former Bitola mayor and other officials of this commune are under investigation, Fetai told reporters.

Violations in procurement procedures, abuses with state funds and exertion of power for personal profits are some of the charges raised against the 17 suspects.

Special Public Prosecutor Katica Janeva told the press conference that SPO mandate should be extended beyond 2020 so that the office focuses on high-profile corruption cases.

She stressed that the SPO would file other indictments if competent institutions found ways to extend its mandate.

Janeva also saluted the Appellate Court decision over the use of wiretapped conversations as evidence in court proceedings. Enditem