The Skopje Prosecutor’s Office has requested detention for Sabahudin Rustemi, the acting director of PE “Communal Hygiene” – Skopje, and a waste manager within the company. This request is part of an ongoing investigation into the two individuals for allegedly endangering the environment and nature through improper waste management practices.

The Prosecutor’s Office alleges that the suspects violated the Law on Waste Management and neglected their responsibilities related to the collection and transportation of non-hazardous waste. This failure, they claim, is contrary to the company’s core business and the obligations outlined in the Operational Program for the Collection and Transportation of Municipal Waste and the Operational Plan for Maintaining Public Cleanliness in the City.

Specifically, the suspects are accused of enabling the creation of small landfills on public and traffic areas due to inadequate supervision of waste collection and transportation. These landfills, located near designated containers, reportedly caused substantial damage to the soil, air, and water quality during the month. The Prosecutor’s Office contends that these conditions posed a risk to public health by potentially spreading infectious diseases.

Extraordinary inspection supervisions conducted by local environmental inspectors, acting on instructions from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, revealed the alleged violations. Additionally, an expert opinion from the PHI Institute of Public Health confirmed the negative impact of the waste on public health and the potential for the spread of infectious diseases.

The Prosecutor’s Office has submitted a proposal to the Basic Criminal Court Skopje, requesting detention for the two suspects due to concerns about potential witness tampering and the risk of repeated offenses. The court will now consider the request and make a decision regarding the detention of the acting director and the waste manager.