SKOPJE
Nine people, including former Defense Ministry officials businessmen, have been detained by police in Macedonia investigating an alleged defense scam involving the state being overcharged by $2.77 million.
The nine were held after police launched operation "Arsenal" on Tuesday, said Macedonian Interior Ministry spokesman Ivo Kotes.
The suspects are accused of charging bogus costs to the Macedonian Ministry of Defense for the maintenance of six helicopters by both domestic and foreign companies and overcharging by 135 million denar ($ 2.77 million).
Kotes claimed the former head of the Logistics Department in the Defense Ministry had overcharged for the servicing of six helicopters by the two firms which were established abroad between 2004 and 2009.
The suspect has also accused of "irregularities" involving the purchase of spare parts for army tanks.
The Ministry of Defense said in a statement it was fully supporting the police in their investigations.
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