Milosevic accused of stashing fortune

BERLIN - President he may be no longer, but Slobodan Milosevic remains the boss of bosses at the apex of a criminal organisation and has salted away more than $US100 million, according to an investigation conducted by the German Federal Intelligence Service, the BND.

The BND believes Milosevic spread his ill-gotten gains in Russia, China, Cyprus, Greece, Lebanon and South Africa. His son Marko, who was thrown out of China last week and is now believed to be in Russia, is alleged to have recently deposited millions of dollars in bank accounts in Cyprus and South Africa. Switzerland alone is said to be the home of $US100 million of the Milosevic clan's money.

The BND's file on Milosevic also names a dozen senior Serbian politicians as cohorts in the mafia that has bled Yugoslavia dry for over a decade. "Considerable evidence indicates that Milosevic and his entourage constitute an organised crime structure, and are engaged in drug dealing, money laundering and other criminal acts," the report states.

The BND goes on to allege that about 60 people closely allied with the ousted President reign over the Yugoslav economy. "The near total control of key economic posts by Milosevic followers opened opportunities for illegal capital transfer for personal enrichment and financing for political plans - weapons purchases - and served as camouflage for criminal activity - drug trade."

The Milosevic organisation reached the Yugoslav National Bank, the country's Customs and Excise, the airline JAT, the petroleum concern NIS-Jugopetrol, as well as the communications firm perhaps aptly named MOBTEL.

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Herald Online feature: Revolution in Yugoslavia
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia

Serbian Ministry of Information

Serbian Radio - Free B92

Otpor: Serbian Student Resistance Movement