“EUR 100mn from seized properties”

Justice Minister Snezana Malovic said that the total of property seized either temporarily or permanently from criminals thus far is close to EUR 100mn. At a round table discuss on seizing property gained through criminal enterprise, Malovic said that after verdicts in two cases, property has been permanently seized from criminals who did not obtain it legally. “EUR 100mn from seized properties” “In a year, 15 homes, 27 apartments, eight stores and a large number of automobiles have been seized temporarily,” she said, adding that there is about EUR 700,000 and RSD 2mn on the account of the directorate for appropriating with seized property. Malovic said that the results of the law for seizing illegally gained property are very good. She said that seizing these properties is important to the fight against organized crime, because many of the criminals launder the money through legal avenues and use the money for corrupting politicians, buying media outlets and controlling financial institutions. The minister added that the recent practice has showed the great importance of financial investigations, since most of the property is not in the direct ownership of the indicted persons, but owned by family and friends. Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said that the unit for financial investigations has found and gathered evidence for about 300 apartments, homes, business properties and garages, about 100 vehicles, EUR 9mn and RSD 4mn that have no legal origin. Dacic said that the seizing of these properties is one of the basic goals of the fight against organized crime, because gaining property illegally and getting them legalized is the basic motive for the formation and work of organized crime groups. “I believe that by taking away the illegally gained property which is in disproportion to the legal incomes, will discourage all potential criminals,” Dacic said. OSCE Chief in Serbia Thomas Moore said that one challenge of implementing the law is the way in which the money will be used once it is seized, adding that the rights of the indicted most be ensured properly as well. He said that the contributions of the law’s implementation are already great, adding that the trust of the citizens in the state’s capability to deal with crime has been increased. The round table discussion was organized by the OSCE mission in Serbia as well as the U.S. embassy in Belgrade. The round table in Belgrade today (Tanjug)

“EUR 100mn from seized properties”

“In a year, 15 homes, 27 apartments, eight stores and a large number of automobiles have been seized temporarily,” she said, adding that there is about EUR 700,000 and RSD 2mn on the account of the directorate for appropriating with seized property.

Malović said that the results of the law for seizing illegally gained property are very good.

She said that seizing these properties is important to the fight against organized crime, because many of the criminals launder the money through legal avenues and use the money for corrupting politicians, buying media outlets and controlling financial institutions.

The minister added that the recent practice has showed the great importance of financial investigations, since most of the property is not in the direct ownership of the indicted persons, but owned by family and friends.

Interior Minister Ivica Dačić said that the unit for financial investigations has found and gathered evidence for about 300 apartments, homes, business properties and garages, about 100 vehicles, EUR 9mn and RSD 4mn that have no legal origin.

Dačić said that the seizing of these properties is one of the basic goals of the fight against organized crime, because gaining property illegally and getting them legalized is the basic motive for the formation and work of organized crime groups.

“I believe that by taking away the illegally gained property which is in disproportion to the legal incomes, will discourage all potential criminals,” Dačić said.

OSCE Chief in Serbia Thomas Moore said that one challenge of implementing the law is the way in which the money will be used once it is seized, adding that the rights of the indicted most be ensured properly as well.

He said that the contributions of the law’s implementation are already great, adding that the trust of the citizens in the state’s capability to deal with crime has been increased.

The round table discussion was organized by the OSCE mission in Serbia as well as the U.S. embassy in Belgrade.