Businessman and former SPS official arrested

Businessman and former SPS official arrested

Perčević was arrested at a friend's house in the part of Belgrade called Batajnica. His friend was apprehended as well.

Interior Minister Nebojša Stefanović said on Saturday a warrant for Perčević's arrest had been issued on suspision of multiple crimes related to Univerzal banka, which declared bankruptcy early this year.

The warrant was issued on suspicion that Perčević used his position and exceeded his authority to secure loans for a number of companies through direct deals with Univerzal's management.

Certain companies got 34 loans that totaled over RSD 1.4 billion, which could not be returned due to credit inability and inadequate security, which was known at the time the loans were approved, Stefanović said.

Perčević's Interkomerc was among those companies who owed the most to Univerzal, RSD 1 billion.

Perčević was one of the founders and a president of the Young Socialists of Serbia and later a vice president of the SPS. He left the party in November 2000.

According to media reports, Perčević owns valuable real estate, mostly in the center of Belgrade, that have been under mortgage since 4-5 years ago, which did not prevent him from using them as collateral for new loans.