News AP News Macedonia detains 2 former officials after ex-PM's flight

Macedonia detains 2 former officials after ex-PM's flight

Macedonian authorities have temporarily jailed two former government officials on trial for corruption, after the former prime minister fled to Hungary to avoid serving a two-year prison term

Macedonia detains 2 former officials after ex-PM's flight Image Source : APMacedonia detains 2 former officials after ex-PM's flight

SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) — Macedonian authorities have temporarily jailed two former government officials on trial for corruption, after the former prime minister fled to Hungary to avoid serving a two-year prison term.

A criminal court on Wednesday ordered former transport minister Mile Janakieski and former government secretary-general Kiril Bozinovski to be held for 30 days. Prosecutors sought their detention amid fears they could also try to flee the country.

They are on trial on charges including corruption over public contracts and election fraud.

Interior minister Oliver Spasovski said late Tuesday that Macedonia will seek the extradition from Hungary of Nikola Gruevski, who was prime minister from 2006-2016.

Gruevski, currently a lawmaker for the main opposition party, was convicted of influencing officials to purchase a luxury car for government use.

Disclaimer: This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Associated Press (AP) wire.