Two suspects in RBV case remanded in custody

BELGRADE -- Two former Development Bank of Vojvodina (RBV) Executive Board members suspected of abuse of office have been remanded in custody for 30 days.

Miljko Radisavljević (Tanjug, file)
Miljko Radisavljević (Tanjug, file)

The Special Court remanded former RBV Executive Board President Goran Kostić and Executive Board member Jelena Kokelj Protić in custody on Friday at Organized Crime Prosecutor Miljko Radisavljević's request.

They are suspected of abuse of office and illegally approving bank transactions.

Kostić and Kokelj Protić were arrested on Thursday morning.

“There is a reasonable suspicion that Goran Kostić and Jelena Kokelj Protić committed abuse of office during approval of loans and bank guarantees. They secured loans and bank guarantees for companies controlled by suspect Dušan Borovica – Ruma-based Borovica-Transport, Ruma-based Borovica Transport-Put, Ruma-based Panonija putevi, Ruma-based Sremski putevi, Sremska Mitrovica-based Putevi, Sremska Mitrovica-based Hidrograđevinar, Novi Sad-based Dunav Grupa Agregati, Zrenjanin-based Vojvodinaput-Zrenjanin, Apatin-based Napredak and Ruma-based Rumatrans,” the Serbian police said in a release.

A total of ten illegal bank guarantees and five loans that still have not been paid back were approved by the suspects. Borovica’s companies illegally obtained almost RSD 1.9mn in the process.