MUP: Eight persons arrested in Galenika case

BELGRADE - Eight people got arrested Sunday on suspicion of being involved in several criminal offenses of abusing the position of responsible persons and causing losses of about EUR 75 million to Galenika, a pharmaceutical public enterprise, the Serbian Interior Ministry (MUP) said in a statement.

The arrestees include former Galenika general manager Nenad Ognjanovic (60), Galenika Chairman of the Board Dejan Backovic (39), Assistant General Manager for Economic Affairs at Galenika Dragan Sebrek (56) and former CEO and Chairman of the Board at Velefarm, formerly Serbia’s biggest drugs wholesaler, Dragoljub Vucicevic (66).

Also arrested were Marketing Manager at Velefarm Rade Lazarevic (45), General Manager and authorized person to represent the company, which has been in bankruptcy since 2012, Momir Vukovic (64), head of Velefarm financial management department Ljubica Kapor (58) and Velefarm Accounting Manager Tatjana Vucetic (57).

Police are still searching for Velefarm Chief Financial Officer Miroslav Milovanovic (60).

The suspects allegedly caused losses of about EUR 75 million to Galenika from November 2008 through 2012 to provide financial gain to legal entities from Belgrade operating within Velefarm Holding and to Dragoljub Vucicevic.

There are reasonable grounds to believe that in this period, Galenika delivered about EUR 75 million worth of products to
Velefarm, and promissory notes were issued as collateral for payment.
When due and payable, these notes were charged against Galenika’s account by order of the suspects Ognjenovic and Sebrek.

The suspects will be taken to the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime in Belgrade for questioning.

The arrest operation...