After spending more than a year as a fugitive and being the subject of an international arrest warrant, the former director of the State Lottery Perparim Bajrami today surrendered to law enforcement. Bajrami came to the Blace border crossing with Kosovo and handed himself to the police, just as his co-defendant and close friend, former Deputy Prime Minister Artan Grubi, did months ago.

Four additional proceedings against Perparim Bajrami are currently underway at the Skopje Public Prosecutor’s Office. Officials there state that evidence is being gathered and expert analyses are being conducted.

The Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office – Skopje stated: “Following the indictment filed by the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office Skopje, court proceedings against the accused are ongoing. A detention order, which remains in effect, has already been issued for him at the request of the public prosecutor. The court case in which he is charged with the criminal offense of ‘Abuse of Official Position and Authority’ under Article 353 of the Criminal Code is currently in progress. Additionally, four other proceedings against him for the same criminal offense are underway at the Skopje Public Prosecutor’s Office, involving the collection of evidence and the conducting of expert analyses.”

The trial for the “Lottery” case is currently ongoing, and this week the defendants present in the courtroom pleaded not guilty. Following the surrender of the primary defendant, Bajrami, to law enforcement authorities, the Criminal Court will today serve him with the indictment for review. The hearings for the “Lottery” case previously scheduled for September 11 and 16 have been cancelled, and the proceedings will resume on September 18.