Serbia’s Minister of Economy, Rade Basta, was arrested on Wednesday on an order from the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade, on suspicion of causing financial damage of tens of millions of dinars to the public enterprise “Beogradske Elektrane”.
According to Serbian media, Basta is suspected of causing the damage during his tenure as head of the public enterprise that manages the central heating system in the Serbian capital.
The investigation concerns suspicions that he approved unjustified donations to various sports organizations, including small football, basketball and horse riding clubs. The arrest was carried out by officers of the Anti-Corruption Unit, who are conducting a broad operation involving searches of various premises.
According to unofficial information broadcast by RTS, several other people suspected of being linked to the case are also being taken in for questioning as part of the same investigation. Authorities are verifying how the funds of the public enterprise were approved and distributed, as well as the responsibilities of the persons involved.
Rade Basta served as Minister of Economy in the Serbian government from October 2022 until 2023, when he was dismissed from his post. He had been appointed to this position as a representative of the party “United Serbia” (Jedinstvena Srbija).
