MACEDONIA: STIFF TIP SENTENCES AND ANOTHER

UNCLAS SKOPJE 000740

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR STATE EUR/SCE (PAUL PFEUFFER),G/TIP (SALLY NEUMANN),
DOJ (JOE JONES),DOJ/OPDAT (CARL ALEXANDRE)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: STIFF TIP SENTENCES AND ANOTHER
ANTI-TIP RAID

REF: A. SKOPJE 434


B. SKOPJE 579

SUMMARY


1. (SBU) On September 7, a Skopje Court handed down
trafficking-in-persons (TIP) sentences of between two and
nine years in prison to 18 defendants in the "Operation
Danube" trial (ref A) and ordered forfeiture of the
defendants' assets involved. Two days later, the police
conducted an anti-TIP raid on a bar in western Macedonia,
which uncovered eight potential TIP victims. These
developments, following the sentencing in the "Redgo" case
(ref B),show the commitment of Macedonian executive and
judicial officials to tackle human trafficking aggressively.
End summary.

SPEEDY TRIAL DELIVERS STIFF TIP SENTENCES TO 18 DEFENDANTS...


2. (SBU) On September 7, a Skopje Basic Court handed down
sentences to 18 of the original 19 suspected members of an
elaborate TIP operation that was uncovered during the
regional anti-TIP "Operation Danube." The five-month long
"Operation Danube," which ended on May 29, was conducted in
eight European countries and territories, using special
investigative measures to trace the activities of a
well-organized transnational TIP network.


3. (SBU) Only two months after the conclusion of "Operation
Danube," a speedy two-week trial yielded stiff sentences for
the perpetrators on the basis of Criminal Code Art. 418b
("smuggling of migrants") and Art. 418c ("organizing a group
for TIP or smuggling"). Three of the four ring-leaders
--Naser Shemturek, Nexhati Ajdari and Goran Stojanovski--
each received 9 years in prison, while the fourth leader
--Olivera Todorovska-- was sentenced to 4.5 years
imprisonment. The rest of the defendants received between
two and 3.5 years in prison. In addition to the prison
sentences, the court confiscated 10 vehicles and cell phones
that were either used to commit crimes, or were assets
generated through criminal activities.

...LATEST POLICE RAID UNCOVERS 8 POTENTIAL TIP VICTIMS


4. (SBU) On September 10, the Secretary of the National
Commission on Combating TIP and Illegal Migration, Kiro
Todorovski, informed us about a September 9 police raid on
the "Las Vegas" bar near Tetovo in western Macedonia.
According to Todorovski, the police acted upon information
about suspicious TIP and prostitution activities in the bar.
The raid uncovered six women from Albania, who were illegally
in the country, and two Macedonian women. None of the women
had valid work papers. The police are currently conducting
initial investigative interviews with the potential TIP
victims.

COMMENT


5. (SBU) The speedy prosecution and sentencing of the
"Operation Danube" defendants, in addition to the recent
sentencing of the "Redgo" defendants, demonstrates that the
Macedonian courts finally have taken anti-TIP activism to
heart. The confiscation of cell phones and vehicles is
another positive sign of the courts' readiness to implement
the law as a deterrent for future criminals. Often dubbed
"the weakest link" in the fight against TIP in Macedonia, the
judicial system now has a chance to redeem itself by
upholding the TIP sentences, which the defendants have
pledged to appeal.


6. (SBU) The continuous raids on suspicious establishments
show sustained anti-TIP commitment on the part of the police,
as well. Close cooperation between the police and the local
NGO that runs the internal victims shelter has assisted 39
Macedonian TIP victims since April. Post will continue to
support assistance to victims and to press for full use of
legal authorities against traffickers.
NAVRATIL