The Skopje Appellate Court has sentenced former Government Secretary-General Muhamed Zekiri to one year and seven months in prison, Expres.mk has said, citing a Koha report.
He is charged with abuse of official position and authority regarding consulting services contracts for situational analyses and the potential privatization of Post and Railways, awarded without a public procurement procedure. The verdict has come following a retrial. Zekiri has the right to file an appeal with the Supreme Court within eight days.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the contracts caused damage to the state budget exceeding 1.1 million euros. The Appellate Court emphasizes that asset confiscation was ordered against the contractor, Interholding, but not against Zekiri.