The mayor of Shterpce/Strpce Bratislav Nikolic was charged before the Municipal Court in Ferizaj/Urosevac to have misused his official position by unlawfully increasing the amount of the contract worth a million and a half euros for the construction of residential buildings in the place.

Together with Nikolic was charged and the procurement officer of the municipality of Shterpce/Strpce, Agim Rexhepi, reports the Pristina portal "Kallxo".

Prosecution accuses Nikolic and Rexhepi, in order to acquire unlawful material gain, on 16 December in Shterpce/Strpce signed along with other officials, which was contrary to the Law on Public Procurement in Kosovo, an annex to the contract in the amount of 346,000 euros with the contractor "Alba".

At the hearing the day before yesterday, Nikolic and Rexhepi were accused of damaging the Kosovo budget and become complicit in the crime of abuse of official position or official influence, which was punishable under the Criminal Code.

Nikolic and Rexhepi have pleaded not guilty; a lawyer of the accused Nikolic said that the indictment was not based on the relevant facts.

The defence has 30 days to present a defence.