Police, prosecution silent on Subotić accusations

Serbia's police and prosecution have not made any statements regarding the accusations heard from Stanko Subotic aka Cane. In a B92 TV program on Monday evening, hosted by journalist Jugoslav Cosic, Subotic phoned in to accuse that Delta Holding owner Miroslav Miskovic and businessman Milan Beko used his money – EUR 50mn of it – to buy Port of Belgrade and Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti. Police, prosecution silent on Subotic accusations The allegations were made as Cosic was interviewing opposition Montenegrin Movement for Change leader Nebojsa Medojevic. Subotic, wanted in Serbia on a cigarette smuggling indictment, said he was speaking last night from Geneva, Switzerland. Serbian Justice Minister Snezana Malovic said on Tuesday that an international arrest warrant for his arrest was still in effect, but that his extradition could be requested "only if he was arrested in some country". Serbia's warrant against Subotic cites “extended abuse of office”. According to the earlier information, however, the Swiss legal system does not recognize abuse of office, when it comes to privately owned companies. The Serbian justice minister says that decision was up to the Swiss authorities. “Every state is sovereign in assessing the existence of criminal act in accordance with its legislation and whether there is a legal basis to put another country’s international arrest warrant in its national system and act upon it,” she explained. B92 could learn whether the prosecution will investigate if the money acquired through cigarette smuggling operations of the 1990s, for which Subotic is accused, ended up in the pockets of tycoons who had legalized it by buying the Port of Belgrade and the newspaper. Special Prosecutor Miljko Radisavljevic did not return several calls made by B92's reporters today. Serbian police (MUP) Director Milorad Veljovic and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic also did not wish to make any statements about the case to until it was investigated. Subotic claims that he gave EUR 50mn to Miskovic and Beko, who then "started a manhunt against him", when they were "supposed to give the money back". Port of Belgrade, Delta Holding, and Vecernje Novosti today all denied doing business with Subotic. The Serbian justice minister says that decision is up to the Swiss authorities. Serbian national broadcaster RTS Director Aleksandar Tijanic, also mentioned by Subotic, did not wish to comment on his accusations that he was conducting a campaign against him on behalf of Miskovic and Beko. Daily Vecernje Novosti Director Manojlo Vukotic also declined to comment on the allegations. However, B92 TV's investigative program Insajder (Insider) last year pointed to the connection between the privatization of Port of Belgrade and the daily. Meanwhile, last night's talk show host, Jugoslav Cosic, came under fire from this original guest, Medojeviz, who said he was "set up" with Subotic's phone-in. Cosic said that he was aware of what Subotic was accused of, but that he felt that his side of the story should be heard too, in revealing of the whole truth. Also on Tuesday, Ratko Knezevic, a former ally of Milo Djukanovic who has been accusing Subotic of organizing the cigarette smuggling together with Djukanovic and former Serbian secret service (DB) chied Jovica Stanisic, and of being responsible for many murders, also reacted. He launched a strongly-worded attack on Cosic in a menacing article published by the Daily News Montenegro website, saying the reporter was on the payroll of Subotic and Djukanovic. “You’re finished with me, after this shameful act that you have put Nebojsa Medojevic through tonight,” Knezevic wrote in his message to Cosic.

Police, prosecution silent on Subotić accusations

The allegations were made as Ćosić was interviewing opposition Montenegrin Movement for Change leader Nebojša Medojević.

Subotić, wanted in Serbia on a cigarette smuggling indictment, said he was speaking last night from Geneva, Switzerland.

Serbian Justice Minister Snežana Malović said on Tuesday that an international arrest warrant for his arrest was still in effect, but that his extradition could be requested "only if he was arrested in some country".

Serbia's warrant against Subotić cites “extended abuse of office”.

According to the earlier information, however, the Swiss legal system does not recognize abuse of office, when it comes to privately owned companies.

The Serbian justice minister says that decision was up to the Swiss authorities.

“Every state is sovereign in assessing the existence of criminal act in accordance with its legislation and whether there is a legal basis to put another country’s international arrest warrant in its national system and act upon it,” she explained.

B92 could learn whether the prosecution will investigate if the money acquired through cigarette smuggling operations of the 1990s, for which Subotić is accused, ended up in the pockets of tycoons who had legalized it by buying the Port of Belgrade and the newspaper.

Special Prosecutor Miljko Radisavljević did not return several calls made by B92's reporters today.

Serbian police (MUP) Director Milorad Veljović and Interior Minister Ivica Dačić also did not wish to make any statements about the case to until it was investigated.

Subotić claims that he gave EUR 50mn to Mišković and Beko, who then "started a manhunt against him", when they were "supposed to give the money back".

Port of Belgrade, Delta Holding, and Večernje Novosti today all denied doing business with Subotić.

The Serbian justice minister says that decision is up to the Swiss authorities.

Serbian national broadcaster RTS Director Aleksandar Tijanić, also mentioned by Subotić, did not wish to comment on his accusations that he was conducting a campaign against him on behalf of Mišković and Beko.

Daily Večernje Novosti Director Manojlo Vukotić also declined to comment on the allegations. However, B92 TV's investigative program Insajder (Insider) last year pointed to the connection between the privatization of Port of Belgrade and the daily.

Meanwhile, last night's talk show host, Jugoslav Ćosić, came under fire from this original guest, Medojeviž, who said he was "set up" with Subotić's phone-in.

Ćosić said that he was aware of what Subotić was accused of, but that he felt that his side of the story should be heard too, in revealing of the whole truth.

Also on Tuesday, Ratko Knežević, a former ally of Milo Đukanović who has been accusing Subotić of organizing the cigarette smuggling together with Đukanović and former Serbian secret service (DB) chied Jovica Stanišić, and of being responsible for many murders, also reacted.

He launched a strongly-worded attack on Ćosić in a menacing article published by the Daily News Montenegro website, saying the reporter was on the payroll of Subotić and Đukanović.

“You’re finished with me, after this shameful act that you have put Nebojša Medojević through tonight,” Knežević wrote in his message to Ćosić.