SkopjeDiem Macedonia in English
Regarding the case of Judge Elvedin Ferati, who made the verdict in the Teodora Ristevska case (sentencing Mensur Pajaziti to two years in prison) and who, during his time as Faculty of Law student (at Tetovo State University), would cross off his marks and put higher ones in order to be admitted to the Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors, the Prosecutor’s Office has said it already completed the investigation.
Even though the State Education Inspectorate explained on Tuesday that it hadn’t been able to find any documents showing Ferati had taken the exams in question, the Office pointed out it had received requests, decisions, and applications for retaking the exams, as well as proof of received marks concerning four courses through which the Faculty had confirmed that in 2014, the student had retaken the exams and gotten marks through which he’d increased his average to over 8.00, after which he’d applied as a candidate of the Academy.
“This information, on 31 January 2024, was submitted by the University also to the Inspectorate, as an amendment to papers, on the basis of which the conducted inspection supervision minutes in June 2023 were drawn up”, the Office explained.
According to the materials, in March, the Prosecutor found there couldn’t be criminal prosecution of Ferati. The Office also said that it hadn’t received the explanatory note of the verdict in writing. However, considering the sentence, the relevant Prosecutor considers that there are grounds to file an appeal.
When it comes to the Judicial Council, however, it will look into the work of Judge Ferati. The institution’s President, Aleksandar Kambovski, said that insight would be conducted to check whether action according to the law had been carried out regarding the sentence. While reading the verdict, Ferati said it would be a lesson and example for everyone in traffic. Kambovski will not comment on the verdict until, as he pointed out, he sees the details.
Commenting on the matter, Justice Minister Igor Filkov said it had been again shown that there was a reason why confidence in the judiciary was at a level of 2%.
The Ristovska case concerns the 2022 traffic accident in which, according to the charge, the 22-year-old girl was run over by Pajaziti, who was driving a BMW, while crossing a zebra crossing. She succumbed to the injuries four days later at a clinic in Skopje.
