| Charges brought against Tobacco Mafia |
| 15 December 2007 | 12:44
| Source:
FoNet, Beta |
BELGRADE --
The Special Prosecution has announced that it has launched proceedings against the so-called Tobacco Mafia.
The prosecution has pressed charges relating to abuse of authority and cigarette smuggling against nine suspects - Siniša Stojčić, Dejan Milenović, Mihajl Kertes, Petar Milenković, Nebojša Nikolić, Stojan Mišić, Radisav Gvozdenović, Nenad Živadinović and Zdravko Hristov.
The inquiry determined that evidence existed that the group, whose ringleaders were Stojčić and his brother Radovan who was killed in 1997, by using the business structure of the R5 company in Niš owned by Siniša, and with the assistance of Customs officials and staff, allowed lorries carrying undeclared cigarettes to pass through the frontier unhindered.
According to the investigation’s findings, the company made profits of USD 1.82mn through the illegal import and sale of cigarettes throughout Serbia in 1997.
Of the nine suspects, three are currently in custody for this case, two are in custody for other crimes under the jurisdiction of the Belgrade District Court’s Special section, while four are still free.
If found guilty, they face prison sentences from 2 to 12 years.
Previously, charges had been brought against another group headed by Stanko Subotić, aka Cane. A third gang uncovered by Operation Net included Bojana Bajrušević and Marko Milošević, the son of the late president, Slobodan.
|
search b92.net
B92 live 
"The situation in Europe is dire. After years of profligate spending, Greece is becoming overwhelmed. Barring some sort of large-scale bailout program..."... 
What we need in Belgrade, really, is a suspension bridge. We need a bridge that will suspend our doubts about ever having enough viable bridges. We need a bridge that will suspend our disbelief about the dangers
...
