Former minister suspected of abusing office

A former minister has used an official residence although his family owns at least one apartment in Belgrade. Predrag Bubalo, DSS, minister of trade in the Kostunica government, is yet to return the apartment provided to him by the state, although the deadline for this has expired, B92 has learned. Former minister suspected of abusing office Meantime, B92 TV has received calls from citizens who claim that Bubalo lives in their neighborhood and that they regularly see him there. Bubalo was one of the ministers for whom the government provided residences in the capital because they owned none privately. He told the daily Blic that he is using a small official apartment in an old building where he has been "squeezed with other members of the family for the past three and a half years". But, B92 has found out that Bubalo lives in a remodeled official apartment spanning 158 sq meters in 2 Jevremova St., in Belgrade – something that other residents who spoke off the record confirmed. Before moving to Jevremova St. Bubalo's official residence was in 10 Budimska St. The former minister would not make any comment when asked which official apartment he was using now, and whether this constituted for abuse of office since his family does own a private apartment in Belgrade. But he did tell Blic that he was still in his state-provided residence because his own apartment was not yet ready to be moved in, and added he would return the keys, "according to the law". B92 has also found out that Bubalo owns a four-bedroom apartment in New Belgrade, registered in the name of his wife Radmila. The residents of the building where the apartment is located have confirmed seeing Bubalo there. However, citizens who live in a building located in Vuka Karadzica St. in Belgrade say that Bubalo is – their neighbor. Once again, the fourth storey apartment is registered to Radmila Bubalo. The former minister's fellow DSS official Andreja Mladenovic says the return of the official apartment is a technical issue, and denies that Bubalos own any residential property in Belgrade. The government's general secretariat says that the use of official residence ends on the day that state officials cease performing their duties.

Former minister suspected of abusing office

Meantime, B92 TV has received calls from citizens who claim that Bubalo lives in their neighborhood and that they regularly see him there.

Bubalo was one of the ministers for whom the government provided residences in the capital because they owned none privately.

He told the daily Blic that he is using a small official apartment in an old building where he has been "squeezed with other members of the family for the past three and a half years".

But, B92 has found out that Bubalo lives in a remodeled official apartment spanning 158 sq meters in 2 Jevremova St., in Belgrade – something that other residents who spoke off the record confirmed.

Before moving to Jevremova St. Bubalo's official residence was in 10 Budimska St.

The former minister would not make any comment when asked which official apartment he was using now, and whether this constituted for abuse of office since his family does own a private apartment in Belgrade.

But he did tell Blic that he was still in his state-provided residence because his own apartment was not yet ready to be moved in, and added he would return the keys, "according to the law".

B92 has also found out that Bubalo owns a four-bedroom apartment in New Belgrade, registered in the name of his wife Radmila.

The residents of the building where the apartment is located have confirmed seeing Bubalo there.

However, citizens who live in a building located in Vuka Karadžića St. in Belgrade say that Bubalo is – their neighbor. Once again, the fourth storey apartment is registered to Radmila Bubalo.

The former minister's fellow DSS official Andreja Mladenović says the return of the official apartment is a technical issue, and denies that Bubalos own any residential property in Belgrade.

The government's general secretariat says that the use of official residence ends on the day that state officials cease performing their duties.