The Director of Gostivar’s Komunalec (Public Utilities) Public Enterprise (PE), Artana Asani, along with two of her associates — Technical Director Leon Nuredini and Vadedin Dervishi, head of the Water Supply and Sewerage sector — were on Tuesday brought before a pre-trial judge at the Basic Court in Gostivar. Several hours later, they were each issued a 30-day detention measure.
According to the investigation so far, the three people are suspected of ordering the installation of pumps near the water supply line to increase water pressure. Instead, contaminated wastewater mixed with Gostivar’s drinking water supply.
Tuesday also saw the Food and Veterinary Agency present additional details. On July 13, the water in Gostivar was assessed as safe for drinking, while the Prosecutor’s Office established that it had contained fecal matter from June 25, the Agency’s Director, Oliver Milanov, said. The Public Health Center said that the water was safe for drinking on June 29, too.