Bankruptcy Mafia decision dangerous precedent

Organized Crime Prosecutor Miljko Radisavljevic criticized a decision to cancel detention in a high profile case. The Supreme Court last week decided to let Sekula Pjevcevic, Jelica Zivkovic and Goran Kljajevic leave prison as proceedings against them continue. Bankruptcy Mafia decision dangerous precedent The three are former state employees – Kljajevic was president of the Commercial Court – suspected of abusing office to make illegal gains in bankruptcy cases. Radisavljevic told the daily Blic that he believes the move jeopardizes and impedes the work of his office, but also that of police, investigative judges and the court council that is currently conducting the main hearing. The prosecutor also spoke about the case of the murder of Slavko Curuvija, a journalist shot dead in Belgrade in the spring of 1999, by saying that his office does not have sufficient evidence to lodge a request to start another investigation, but that he hopes "new personnel in the security structures will help discover the perpetrators of this crime". As for another case the media dubbed a mafia – this time the Tobacco Mafia, and its alleged leader Stanko Subotic's extradition from Russia, so far denied by that country, Radisavljevic told the newspaper that his detention was ordered on multiple charges, and not only out of fear that he might flee. For this reason, he said, the court has so far rejected suggestions of setting him free on bail. The political background of Zoran Djindjic's murder, the prosecutor continued, will not be looked into by his office. "Prosecution will not deal with political background of any event, including that mentioned, and such appraisals should be given by historians, political scientists and others". Radisavljevic explained that his office had interest only in the criminal and legal aspects of the case.

Bankruptcy Mafia decision dangerous precedent

The three are former state employees – Kljajević was president of the Commercial Court – suspected of abusing office to make illegal gains in bankruptcy cases.

Radisavljević told the daily Blic that he believes the move jeopardizes and impedes the work of his office, but also that of police, investigative judges and the court council that is currently conducting the main hearing.

The prosecutor also spoke about the case of the murder of Slavko Ćuruvija, a journalist shot dead in Belgrade in the spring of 1999, by saying that his office does not have sufficient evidence to lodge a request to start another investigation, but that he hopes "new personnel in the security structures will help discover the perpetrators of this crime".

As for another case the media dubbed a mafia – this time the Tobacco Mafia, and its alleged leader Stanko Subotić's extradition from Russia, so far denied by that country, Radisavljević told the newspaper that his detention was ordered on multiple charges, and not only out of fear that he might flee.

For this reason, he said, the court has so far rejected suggestions of setting him free on bail.

The political background of Zoran Đinđić's murder, the prosecutor continued, will not be looked into by his office.

"Prosecution will not deal with political background of any event, including that mentioned, and such appraisals should be given by historians, political scientists and others".

Radisavljević explained that his office had interest only in the criminal and legal aspects of the case.