New investigation into the owner of “Puls”: the prosecution seeks the detention of Dejan Jovanov-Deko, a day before he was to be released

The Basic Public Prosecution for Organised Crime and Corruption opened a new investigation against Dejan Jovanov-Deko, the owner of the “Puls” discotheque in Kočani and the first accused for the death of 63 people in the fire of March 16, 2025, as Fokus reports. According to information from the Skopje Criminal Court, because of the new investigation the prosecution will seek the imposition of detention — meaning that, if the request is accepted, Deko will not go free on Saturday, October 3, when his current detention expires.

As Skopje1 reports, the Criminal Court confirmed that tomorrow, October 2, it will decide on the new measures against the owner of “Puls” — a day before the expiry of the current detention. TV21 adds that the new case was opened precisely by the Prosecution for Organised Crime and Corruption.

Today’s hearing in the courtroom in Idrizovo took place in tension, Fokus reports. The tensions began during the testimony of the defence’s technical adviser Petre Ruseski, who spoke about the building where the discotheque operated and the construction interventions in it, which caused the harsh reaction of some of the victims’ parents and a clash with the defence. Judge Dijana Gruevska-Ilievska asked the parents to leave the room to calm the situation; some left in tears, while after a short break, with the court’s permission, they returned to the room again.

The hearing was later interrupted, after the accused himself felt unwell and requested medical help, Fokus writes. Jovanov complained of back pain, as well as discomfort and pain in his chest; an ECG examination was performed on him, which showed no signs of an acute condition, but observation and additional checks were recommended if the complaints continue. Because of his health condition, the Judicial Council decided to interrupt today’s hearing.

For the “Puls” trial, 49 hearings have been held so far and none has been postponed, the Criminal Court informs. More than 1,300 items of material evidence have been presented and 45 witnesses and five experts have been heard; the trial is in the phase of presenting the defence’s evidence, which has proposed 244 witnesses. Jovanov’s detention legally expires on October 3, while the defence has announced a property guarantee of about 200,000 euros — not mandatory — to secure the opinion that he will not leave the country; the guarantee documents are still with the prosecution for an opinion, and the court has announced that without the Prosecution’s opinion it cannot decide.