The former mayors of the city of Kochani in North Macedonia, Nikolcho Iliev and Ratko Dimitrovski, as well as the resigned mayor Ljubcho Papazov, were detained by the police last night in connection with the fire at the local disco “Puls“, which claimed the lives of 59 people on Sunday, MIA reported.
Papazov, who resigned on Monday, was questioned by a prosecutor at the District Prosecutor's Office in Kochani on March 17, and after the end of his questioning, the prosecutor's office announced that a decision would be made on his further status in the proceedings, the agency recalls.
Follow-up actions are expected from the prosecutor's team due to the expiration of the preventive measure “detention in custody“ imposed on 18 people in pre-trial proceedings.
An investigation has already been initiated and a 30-day arrest order has been issued for seven people - employees of the State Directorate of Internal Affairs in Štip and the police station in Kočani, who are suspected of being co-perpetrators, having prepared, signed and approved a positive opinion allowing a legal entity to obtain a license to operate as a public establishment - a cabaret, even though the facility does not meet the legal requirements for operation.
Police officers from the “Criminal Police and Organized Crime“ department entered the municipality of Kocani the day before yesterday to secure documentation related to the disco.
Among the persons who have been ordered to take a preventive measure of "detention in custody" are the former Minister of Economy and the former Director of the State Trade Inspectorate, MIA recalls.
According to prosecutor Ljubco Kocevski, all evidence regarding the "Pulse" disco indicates the presence of serious crimes against public security, for which up to 20 years in prison are foreseen.
The fire at the "Pulse" disco in the town of Kocani, 80 km east of the capital Skopje, on Sunday killed 59 young people and injured 155. The fire during a concert by a popular band was caused by sparks from pyrotechnics used for lighting effects, according to initial investigation data. Officials said the discotheque's license was obtained illegally. The venue had only one emergency exit, which was locked during the concert. There were only two fire extinguishers and no fire alarm or water sprinkler system in case of fire.