At today's hearing for appellate judge Đoko Ristov the focus was on the bank accounts. The figures presented by the prosecution describe the situation more precisely than any statement could.

Ristov's accounts at five banks held around 25 million denars. The accounts of his wife Simona - around 11 million denars. Together, that is about 600,000 euros. In the accounts of his mother, Donka Ristova, the prosecution found a further 975,000 euros.

More than 1.5 million euros in total, in one family.

A salary that grows, a balance that grows faster

A certified court expert analysed the tax returns, bank transactions and property of Ristov and his wife between 2016 and 2024. According to what was presented at the hearing, Ristov's salary rose from around 60,000 denars in 2016 to 120,000 denars in 2024. His wife's income rose from 17,000 denars in 2017 to 90,000 in 2024.

The expert, Zvonko Kočovski, confirmed he cannot establish the origin of the funds held by the judge and his family members.

The prosecution had earlier pointed out that the declared income does not account for the 350,000 euros found in a hole behind the kitchen tiles in Ristov's family house in Negotino. According to the indictment, there is DNA and fingerprint evidence linking the judge to that hidden cash.

The contact list

Prosecutor Iskra Hadži-Vasileva presented the contacts from the judge's phone for the period 2023-2025. Among the names are Vice Zaev, Bojan Jovanovski - Boki, Ana Kamčeva, Ljupčo Pecov - the Devil, Frosina Remenski, Pucko, Zoran Azmanov and Enver Bedžeti.

That is a list covering almost every major case that has passed through the Macedonian judiciary in the past decade. The contact list on its own proves nothing - but it does show what kind of network opens up when one appellate judge hands over his phone.

The defence

In cross-examination, lawyer Zvonko Davidović argued that by his calculations "only" around 570,000 euros remain as a sum whose origin needs further explanation. The defence announced it will present its own expert analysis at the coming hearings.

Davidović also stressed that Ristov does not judge alone at the Court of Appeal, but as part of a three-member panel.

That is a defence worth holding on to. It is accurate - an appellate judge really does not decide alone. But the same logic means that if one member of the panel is compromised, the decisions of that panel are compromised too. The argument meant to exonerate the judge actually widens the problem to the whole institution.

Ristov is charged with unjustified acquisition and concealment of property and with money laundering. The proceedings continue.