SERBIA

ANTI-CORRUPTION CRACKDOWN INTENSIFIES: Police raid over 50 companies, more raids announced!

by Serbian Times19. February 2025.19. February 2025.

As part of a large-scale operation aimed at uncovering and prosecuting corruption-related crimes, officers from the Tax Police and the Criminal Police Directorate (UKP), acting on orders from the Special Department for Combating Corruption of the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade, raided more than 50 companies across various cities in Serbia this morning, Blic has learned unofficially.

Among the companies under investigation are, according to sources, Tončev Group from Niš, Fristajler from Belgrade, Škrbić Winery, Grass Garden, Sava Nova Plus Restaurant, Putevi Užice, IT Globe, NBI.N.A.T. doo Kragujevac, and others.

Currently, more than 50 companies are under scrutiny, with even more firms across Serbia expected to undergo inspections in the coming days.

UKP RAID ON THE NURSES’ CHAMBER

The head of the Clinic for Emergency and Clinical Toxicology at the Military Medical Academy, Prof. Dr. Jasmina Jović Stošić, was arrested yesterday at the institution on suspicion of abusing her official position for personal and third-party financial gain exceeding three million dinars.

Additionally, officers from the Criminal Police Directorate raided the Chamber of Nurses and Medical Technicians, arresting former director Radmila Ugrica.

During a search of Radmila Ugrica’s residence, authorities found a contract for the purchase of an apartment in Greece.

Prior to Ugrica’s arrest, the Criminal Police Directorate had also detained her associate. More details on that case can be found in a separate report.

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A SERIES OF ARRESTS

In a major police operation on Saturday, authorities arrested Dušan Rafailović, chairman of the Board for Standardization.

Shortly afterward, another corruption-related arrest took place, leading to the detainment of 15 individuals, including Dragan Tikić, a so-called “local sheriff” from Vojvodina, who is suspected of tax fraud that caused significant damage to the state budget.

As a reminder, as part of this large-scale anti-corruption operation, authorities also recently arrested Milorad Grčić, mayor of Obrenovac and former acting director of EPS.

Additionally, controversial businessman Aleksandar Papić was also taken into custody.

Investigations into all these cases are ongoing.