Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SKOPJE240
2008-04-01 07:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Skopje
Cable title:
MACEDONIA: 110 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR TIP GROUP
how-toVZCZCXRO0196 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHSQ #0240 0920720 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 010720Z APR 08 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY SKOPJE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7225 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE 0268 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUESEN/SKOPJE BETA RUEHSQ/USDAO SKOPJE MK RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2241 RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
UNCLAS SKOPJE 000240
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/SCE; STATE FOR G/TIP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV NATO MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: 110 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR TIP GROUP
UPHELD ON APPEAL
REF: 07 SKOPJE 185
SUMMARY
UNCLAS SKOPJE 000240
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/SCE; STATE FOR G/TIP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV NATO MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: 110 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR TIP GROUP
UPHELD ON APPEAL
REF: 07 SKOPJE 185
SUMMARY
1. (SBU) The Skopje Appellate Court upheld February 1 the
sentences of 21 defendants in the 2007 trafficking-in-persons
(TIP) case Jug 2 (reftel). Less than a year after the
beginning of the trial, the court system has concluded this
high-profile TIP case, giving the 21 defendants a total of
over 110 years in prison. End summary.
2. (SBU) On March 31, the Secretary of the TIP National
Commission confirmed media reports that on February 1, the
Skopje Appellate Court upheld the November 27, 2007 sentences
of the 21 defendants in the Jug 2 TIP case. Confirming the
defendants' sentences for crimes under Art. 418b ("smuggling
of migrants") and Art. 418c ("organizing a group for TIP"),
the Appellate Court added to the basic court's sentences for
the group's ringleaders. The sentences ranged from 18 months
to 12 1/2 years in prison, bringing the total to over 110
years for the entire group. The higher court also confirmed
the confiscation of thirteen vehicles and a number of mobile
phones, which the defendants had used to communicate while
trafficking Albanian, Moldovan and Indian citizens from
Macedonia into Greece from December 2005 to May 2006.
COMMENT
3. (SBU) The swift conclusion of the high-profile Jug 2 case
marks an important step in Macedonia's fight against TIP.
Upholding the basic court sentences, and giving higher
sentences to the TIP group's ringleaders, showed that the
courts here are able and willing to punish traffickers with
deterrent sentences.
MILOVANOVIC
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/SCE; STATE FOR G/TIP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV NATO MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: 110 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR TIP GROUP
UPHELD ON APPEAL
REF: 07 SKOPJE 185
SUMMARY
1. (SBU) The Skopje Appellate Court upheld February 1 the
sentences of 21 defendants in the 2007 trafficking-in-persons
(TIP) case Jug 2 (reftel). Less than a year after the
beginning of the trial, the court system has concluded this
high-profile TIP case, giving the 21 defendants a total of
over 110 years in prison. End summary.
2. (SBU) On March 31, the Secretary of the TIP National
Commission confirmed media reports that on February 1, the
Skopje Appellate Court upheld the November 27, 2007 sentences
of the 21 defendants in the Jug 2 TIP case. Confirming the
defendants' sentences for crimes under Art. 418b ("smuggling
of migrants") and Art. 418c ("organizing a group for TIP"),
the Appellate Court added to the basic court's sentences for
the group's ringleaders. The sentences ranged from 18 months
to 12 1/2 years in prison, bringing the total to over 110
years for the entire group. The higher court also confirmed
the confiscation of thirteen vehicles and a number of mobile
phones, which the defendants had used to communicate while
trafficking Albanian, Moldovan and Indian citizens from
Macedonia into Greece from December 2005 to May 2006.
COMMENT
3. (SBU) The swift conclusion of the high-profile Jug 2 case
marks an important step in Macedonia's fight against TIP.
Upholding the basic court sentences, and giving higher
sentences to the TIP group's ringleaders, showed that the
courts here are able and willing to punish traffickers with
deterrent sentences.
MILOVANOVIC