Serbia takes millions from the mafia
19/01/2010
Serbian authorities seize valuable property from criminals with a new law passed last year that allows them to confiscate ill-gotten goods.
By Igor Jovanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade – 19/01/10
 Interior Minister Ivica Dacic declares the battle against organised crime this year to be a top priority for Serbian police [File] |
Police have taken property valued in the tens of millions from organised crime figures with plans to sell the goods and use the money to fund social programmes, such as new kindergartens, schools and primary health care facilities.
Serbian Justice Minister Snezana Malovic said on Sunday (January 17th) that 21 financial investigations against 208 organised crime suspects have been launched since the law allowing the measures went into effect in March.
It defines property eligible for confiscation as that whose legitimate origin cannot be proven, putting the legal burden squarely on the suspects rather than the prosecutors. During the process, defendants cannot sell or give away their property.
Driving home the point, Malovic spoke in front of about 30 luxury cars -- Porsches, Audis and BMWs -- seized by the authorities.
"Those vehicles have been confiscated from individuals who have not spent a single day working and have never done any kind of legal business," said organised crime prosecutor Miljko Radisavljevic, noting that most property has been confiscated from drug traffickers.
Especially damaging to Serbia and its economy, Radisavljevic said, is that crime money was being invested in private companies and the housing industry.
Confiscated property includes the former headquarters of the Zemun gang, whose members were convicted of assassinating Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic in 2003. Part of a residence owned by Milorad Ulemek, the architect of Djindjic's murder, was temporarily seized and may be confiscated permanently in court.
Noting that 2010 will be a big year in Serbia's war against organised crime, Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said police busted seven organised crime groups last year. About 1.3 tonnes of narcotics were seized in 2009.
Email to a friend
Print Version 
Kosovo: Impasse at the Border
Energy: Issues and Trends
Changing Perceptions: Women in the Balkans
The Balkans: Going green
We welcome your comments on SETimes's articles.
It is our hope that you will use this forum to interact with other readers across Southeast Europe. In order to keep this experience interesting, we ask you to follow the rules outlined in the comments policy. By submitting comments, you are consenting to these rules. While SETimes.com encourages discussion on all subjects, including sensitive ones, the comments posted are solely the views of those submitting them. SETimes.com does not necessarily endorse or agree with the ideas, views, or opinions voiced in these comments. SETimes.com welcomes constructive discussion but discourages the use of copy-pasted materials, unaccompanied links and one-line slogans. This is a moderated forum. Comments deemed abusive, offensive, or those containing profanity may not be published.
SETimes's Comments Policy