The trial for the tragic fire in the Pulse discotheque in Kočani continues today in the courtroom in Idrizovo, where the Prosecutor’s Office will continue presenting material evidence in the case that shocked the public.
In the current course of the procedure, documents related to the inspections carried out by the Municipality of Kočani were presented, including reports on the work of the inspectors, authorizations of building inspectors and documentation from joint field controls. Annual programs, quarterly plans for inspections and official documents of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue were presented to the court, reported MIA.
The prosecution also presented evidence related to the security agency “Rubicon Security Solutions”, including a work permit, facility security plans, employee lists and materials obtained during searches.
The focus of the evidentiary procedure was the ownership and legal history of the building in which the discotheque operated, as well as documentation on its status according to urban plans. Requests for legalization, inspection reports, lease agreements and other documents collected after the fire were presented.
Among the evidence were also shown photos of the interior of the discotheque after the renovation, found in the phone of the first defendant, Dejan Jovanov. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, there is no official documentation for some of the interventions carried out in the facility.
In addition, documents were presented from the Municipality of Kočani that indicate previously established irregularities. According to them, the building was used as a discotheque for years, even though it had approval for light industry and did not have the appropriate conversion for catering business.
The defense, on the other hand, remains of the opinion that part of the evidence was obtained in an illegal way and requested that they not be taken into account in the proceedings.
The fire at the Pulse disco broke out on March 16, 2025, during a performance by the group DNA. The tragedy killed 63 people and injured more than 200, making it one of the worst accidents in the country’s recent history.
