The Public Prosecutor’s Office in North Macedonia proposed on 23 February that former Deputy Prime Minister Artan Grubi be placed under house arrest following his apprehension by authorities earlier on the day.
Grubi is suspected of abuse of official position in the high-profile “State Lottery” case, which also involves businessman Përparim Bajrami, who is named as a co-suspect in the indictment.
Authorities allege that Grubi and Bajrami embezzled approximately €8m ($9.44m) through irregular procurement of electronic lottery terminals (VLT machines).
Additional accusations include the unlawful allocation of online gambling licenses to four companies with mixed public and private ownership, overpaying rents – at least twice the market rate – for business premises and irregularities in a tender for the purchase of other equipment.
The most recent criminal complaint filed by the Ministry of Interior, about six weeks ago, names six individuals in total.
Grubi had been on the run for more than a year before his arrest, which occurred at the Blace border crossing, between North Macedonia and Kosovo. Authorities confirmed that he is in good health and has been questioned by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The prosecution had requested detention for both Grubi and Bajrami, citing a wellfounded suspicion that their actions were intended to obtain illegal material gain.
Less than a month before stepping down as state prosecutor, Lupče Kocevski announced that the investigations into the State Lottery case had been completed, with only the extradition remaining pending.
On 9 December, Grubi was added to the US Department of State’s blacklist for alleged corruption and political interference.
The Macedonian government is in the process of drafting a new Gambling Law
