Serbia: 79 people were arrested for corruption - among them and a minister
Serbian police arrested 79 people, among them is a former minister, accused of various offenses of corruption, which have allowed the embezzlement of funds of over 100 million euros, announced by Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic.
"These people have committed since 2004 several corruption offenses, abuse of power (...) who allowed the embezzlement of more than 100 million euros.
Among them is a former minister, several former high-ranking civil servants, mayors and former mayors, as well as managers of large enterprises, "said Stefanovic, who has not released the name of the former minister, despite the named only with the initials of his name the SM
According to the website of the newspaper Blic, this is Slobodan Milosavljevic, former Minister of Commerce in the pro-European government of Zoran Djindjic, the Serbian prime minister who was murdered in March 2003, according to the Athens agency.
The Milosavljevic had also served as president of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce.
According to Serbian media, the former director of the national office for combating corruption Zorana Markovic and businessman Zeljko Zounits, business owner Beohemija, are also among the suspects were arrested, including seven high-ranking officials who had served as deputy ministers.
"The suspects involved in money laundering cases, abuse of power and corruption," also noted the Minister of Interior.
Stefanovic also said that the investigation against these suspects "intensified during the last year", adding that the police is looking for five other suspects.
"This is the biggest undertaking made to combat corruption and economic crime.
Our fight against corruption does not take into account whether someone belongs to a political party, nor the maxim "holding the suspects, the minister concluded.
The announcement of these arrests made two weeks after the opening of Serbia on December 14, the first two chapters of the accession negotiations with the EU, after the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo.
Serbian police arrested 79 people, among them is a former minister, accused of various offenses of corruption, which have allowed the embezzlement of funds of over 100 million euros, announced by Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic.
"These people have committed since 2004 several corruption offenses, abuse of power (...) who allowed the embezzlement of more than 100 million euros.
Among them is a former minister, several former high-ranking civil servants, mayors and former mayors, as well as managers of large enterprises, "said Stefanovic, who has not released the name of the former minister, despite the named only with the initials of his name the SM
According to the website of the newspaper Blic, this is Slobodan Milosavljevic, former Minister of Commerce in the pro-European government of Zoran Djindjic, the Serbian prime minister who was murdered in March 2003, according to the Athens agency.
The Milosavljevic had also served as president of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce.
According to Serbian media, the former director of the national office for combating corruption Zorana Markovic and businessman Zeljko Zounits, business owner Beohemija, are also among the suspects were arrested, including seven high-ranking officials who had served as deputy ministers.
"The suspects involved in money laundering cases, abuse of power and corruption," also noted the Minister of Interior.
Stefanovic also said that the investigation against these suspects "intensified during the last year", adding that the police is looking for five other suspects.
"This is the biggest undertaking made to combat corruption and economic crime.
Our fight against corruption does not take into account whether someone belongs to a political party, nor the maxim "holding the suspects, the minister concluded.
The announcement of these arrests made two weeks after the opening of Serbia on December 14, the first two chapters of the accession negotiations with the EU, after the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo.