Stevche Jakimovski, the mayor of Karposh municipality, has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison after being found guilty of illegal construction and abuse of office. The Criminal Court in Skopje announced the verdict on April 23, 2025, in case KOK no. 157/21.

The charges stem from Jakimovski’s actions during the construction of the new municipal building in Karposh. In addition to the prison sentence, the court has ordered the seizure and confiscation of the administrative and business building of the municipality, transferring its ownership to the state.

A former employee of the Karposh municipality, identified as T.Ѓ., was also implicated in the case. T.Ѓ. received a suspended sentence of two years, which will not be executed unless they commit another criminal offense within the next five years.

The court’s statement highlighted the lengthy duration of the proceedings, noting that the case had been ongoing for over six years. The President of the Council expressed concern over the protracted nature of the trial, but acknowledged that the case was completed in the first instance in under a year after the procedure restarted due to a change in the President of the Council.

The court addressed amendments to the Criminal Code regarding abuse of official position, which had resulted in the statute of limitations expiring for numerous cases. However, the Public Prosecutor’s Office continued the criminal proceedings against Jakimovski, and the court determined that the case did not qualify as a continued criminal offense.

Jakimovski was found guilty of illegal construction under Article 244-a paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code, specifically for the construction of a business building – an administrative building of the Local Self-Government. He received a one-year prison sentence for this offense.

For the crime of Abuse of official position and authority under Article 353 paragraph 4, Jakimovski was sentenced to three years in prison. The court combined these sentences, resulting in a single sentence of three years and six months. Time spent in house arrest will be credited towards the imposed prison sentence.

The court further ruled that both Jakimovski and T.Ѓ. are jointly and severally liable to compensate the damage to the Budget funds of the Republic of North Macedonia.