Serbia: Tycoons Questioned over Assassination Attempt

Published: 01 December 2014

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Stanko Subotic

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Serbian police have questioned prominent businessman Miroslav Miskovic in connection with an assassination attempt on former politician and business magnate Milan Beko.

Miskovic is currently on trial in an unconnected case, charged with abuse of power involving road maintenance companies and tax fraud. He was questioned on Friday, shortly after police interviewed another Serbian tycoon, Stanko Subotic. The businessmen, both of whom had business cooperation regarding privatization with Beko claimed that they know nothing about the attack.

Beko was shot multiple times in front of his house on Nov. 14. His driver rushed him to hospital and he survived despite serious injuries. He told police that he did not know who would want to kill him.

Milan Beko, 53, used to be the minister for economic and ownership transformation in the cabinet of former prime right wing minister Mirko Marjanovic, and he helped launch Serbia's privatization process. Although he was never member of a political party, he cooperated with the Serbian Democratic Party in the nineties, which stood in opposition to the regime of Slobodan Milosevic.

Beko played a role in many business deals in Serbia, especially related to privatization. He is also a potential candidate for the position of director of Serbian railways. Miskovic and Subotic allegedly worked together with Beko on the privatization of multiple Serbian companies that are now under investigation by the Serbian special prosecutors of organized crime. Subotic was acquitted in July on charges of cigarette smuggling.