Suspected cigarette smuggler points finger at RTS chief

The lawyers of Stanko Subotic, a.k.a. Cane, claim that he gave money to now state television RTS Director Aleksandar Tijanic on several occasions. The statement says that Subotic made large payments to Tijanic's credit card in 1999 in Bosnia and Montenegro, and that he sent money "via Damir Fazlic in early 2000 as help for Tijanic's sick father". Suspected cigarette smuggler points finger at RTS chief The statement adds that the RTS chief "asked Subotic for money to privatize NIN weekly". In an interview with Croatian daily Jutarnji List, Subotic accused Tijanic, along with former state intelligence agency BIA head Rade Bulatovic, and DSS officials Aleksandar Nikitovic and Dragan Jocic, of creating the so-called “tobacco scandal”. Subotic has been indicted by the Special Organized Crime Prosecution for his involvement in cigarette smuggling activities. Tijanic reacted to Subotic’s claim with a written statement on Monday claiming that every mention of his name by the controversial businessman's paid attorneys "is considered a direct threat", and denied all allegations against him. Subotic also mentioned former Interior Minister Dusan Mihajlovic, stating that Mihajlovic "blackmailed him in exchange for a better status in the investigation on the smuggling of cigarettes" and that he "asked for EUR 15mn" from him for the privatization of C Market retail chain. Subotic told B92 three years ago that he "knew about the investigation into his cigarette smuggling activities from the beginning". He revealed at that time that he was informed of it by Mihajlovic in 2003, who showed him the reports about this operation. B92 today tried to contact the people who Subotic accused of "manufacturing the tobacco affair", but none of them wished to comment. Tijanic said that he was abraod, Mihajlovic hung up the phone on B92’s journalist, stating that he was in a meeting, and Bulatovic did not answer his phone at all during the day. Subotic also claims he is "prepared to testify publicly and to present all necessary evidence if needed".

Suspected cigarette smuggler points finger at RTS chief

The statement adds that the RTS chief "asked Subotić for money to privatize NIN weekly".

In an interview with Croatian daily Jutarnji List, Subotić accused Tijanić, along with former state intelligence agency BIA head Rade Bulatović, and DSS officials Aleksandar Nikitović and Dragan Jočić, of creating the so-called “tobacco scandal”.

Subotić has been indicted by the Special Organized Crime Prosecution for his involvement in cigarette smuggling activities.

Tijanić reacted to Subotić’s claim with a written statement on Monday claiming that every mention of his name by the controversial businessman's paid attorneys "is considered a direct threat", and denied all allegations against him.

Subotić also mentioned former Interior Minister Dušan Mihajlović, stating that Mihajlović "blackmailed him in exchange for a better status in the investigation on the smuggling of cigarettes" and that he "asked for EUR 15mn" from him for the privatization of C Market retail chain.

Subotić told B92 three years ago that he "knew about the investigation into his cigarette smuggling activities from the beginning".

He revealed at that time that he was informed of it by Mihajlović in 2003, who showed him the reports about this operation.

B92 today tried to contact the people who Subotić accused of "manufacturing the tobacco affair", but none of them wished to comment.

Tijanić said that he was abraod, Mihajlović hung up the phone on B92’s journalist, stating that he was in a meeting, and Bulatović did not answer his phone at all during the day.

Subotić also claims he is "prepared to testify publicly and to present all necessary evidence if needed".