The Macedonian police carried out a search in the apartment of Artan Grubit, former First Deputy Prime Minister in the government of North Macedonia.
The action, according to police sources, is related to the procurement of the "State Lottery" at the time when Grubi held the high government post and the director of the Lottery was Pëparim Bajrami, who is thought to have been a close person of the former deputy prime minister.
The police also raided the house of the former director of the lottery. Neither Mr. Grubi nor Bajrami were at home at the time of the police search.
A year ago, articles were published in the Macedonian press that the "State Lottery" had purchased equipment with a value of over 10 million euros in tenders suspected of being manipulated and that the tenders had been won by companies known for their financial support of the Democratic Union for Integration.
The Macedonian Prime Minister, Hristijan Mickoski, after coming to power, accused the "State Lottery" of illegal activity, warning that those responsible would be brought to justice, while officials of the governing coalition "Vlen" have been accusing Grubi of involvement in corruption for weeks.
Through the Facebook network, Artan Grubi announced that he was abroad on a private trip, with regular documents, and that he would return to North Macedonia as soon as he finished his obligations. He called for no speculation that he had escaped.
On Sunday evening, travelers crossing the border point of Bllaca with Hani e Elez in Kosovo said that they had noticed an increased police presence on the Macedonian side and that they had to wait for more than two hours to cross the border. Although Mr. Grubi did not specify the location in his Facebook post, some media in Skopje reported that he was in Kosovo.
Authorities in Skopje began investigations into former deputy prime minister Grubi after the US State Department identified him and judge Enver Bexheti as involved in corruption. VOA (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
