Twenty-Five Suspects Connected to Tax Fraud and Money Laundering Case Face Charges

Higher Public Prosecutor's Office (Beta/Emil Vas)

Twenty-five members of two connected groups suspected of involvement incand multiple tax frauds based on VAT refunds, which ultimately cost the national budget over RSD246 million, faced charges on March 29 before the Special Anti-Corruption Department of the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade.

Apart from three suspects who used their right to silence, the others presented their defense – 17 pleaded not guilty, and five admitted to have been responsible, fully or partially, for the offences they were charged with, the court said in a March 29 release.

The prosecutors proposed to the pre-trial judge of the Higher Court in Belgrade to remand in custody 23 defendants.

The defendants are charged with VAT tax fraud, ungrounded access to and use of loans and other benefits, money laundering and joint criminal enterprise.