Serbia arrests 80 people in anti-corruption campaign

(Baonghean.vn) - On December 26, Serbian police arrested 80 people, including a former minister, on corruption charges. This is the largest anti-corruption campaign ever in Serbia, after the country joined the negotiations on joining the European Union (EU).

Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic announces the arrests in the anti-corruption operation. (Source: Getty Images)

According to Reuters, among the arrested subjects are a former minister, several former senior officials, several mayors and some leaders of large companies. Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said these subjects were accused of abuse of power, money laundering and corruption, which has lasted since 2004 and totaled up to 70 million USD. According to Minister Stefanovi, police are also searching for 5 other suspects.

On December 14, Serbia entered into negotiations with the EU on joining the bloc, one of the issues raised was the need to fight corruption. In addition, the main contents of the negotiations related to financial control and normalization of relations between Belgrade and Kosovo, a territory that unilaterally seceded from Serbia in 2008.

Phuong Thao

(According to Reuters)