A judge has ordered the detention of former North Macedonian economy minister Kreshnik Bekteshi, former director of the State Market Inspectorate Goran Trajkovski and 12 other people suspected of involvement in the fire at the "Pulse" disco in the city of Kocani, which killed 59 young people, for 48 hours, MIA news agency reported.
The court in Kocani accepted the prosecutor's request for a short-term detention measure for all 14 suspects. The detention measure was imposed for 48 hours, the main court in Kocani reported to MIA today.
A total of 59 people died and 155 suffered varying degrees of burns and injuries after a fire broke out at the "Pulse" disco in the early hours of Sunday. A fire broke out during a concert by the popular band “DNA” in the town of Kocani, 80 km east of the capital Skopje. The fire was caused by sparks from pyrotechnics used for lighting effects at the concert. Hundreds of people rushed to the only exit as flames engulfed the roof of the building.
North Macedonia's state prosecutor Ljubco Kocevski announced at a press conference yesterday that 14 people are suspected in connection with the tragedy at the “Pulse” nightclub in Kocani for “serious crimes against public security”. The penalty for this crime is imprisonment for three to 20 years. Kocevski also said that actions for receiving and giving bribes, as well as illegal purchase of pyrotechnics are being investigated.
Former Minister of Economy Kreshnik Bekteshi, former director of the State Market Inspectorate Goran Trajkovski and another person were questioned last night at the prosecutor's office in Kochani in connection with the tragedy. Kochani Mayor Ljubcho Papazov, who resigned, was questioned before that and, as reported by the prosecutor's office, a decision will be made regarding his further status in the case.
Officials indicated that the license of the disco "Pulse" was obtained illegally, that there were no fire extinguishers and emergency exits.
The disco, which local media describe as a former carpet warehouse, is a building with a corrugated iron roof. It had only one emergency exit, which was locked during the concert. There were only two fire extinguishers and no fire alarm or water spray system in case of fire.