Belgrade Airport director placed in 30-day detention

BELGRADE - The pre-trial chamber of the Belgrade-based High Court put Director of the Belgrade Airport “Nikola Tesla” Velimir Radosavljevic in detention for 30 days on Friday.

The chamber delivered the decision after upholding an appeal by the High Public Prosecutor's Office and reversing the decision of the investigative judge.

Offering the reasons for Radosavljevic's detention, the pre-trial chamber stated that there is well-grounded suspicion that the accused may influence the proposed witnesses and thus hinder the proceedings.

“Having all this in mind, the pre-trial chamber found that the detention in this phase of the proceedings is a necessary measure,” notes the release, specifying that Radosavljevic's detention starts from the day and hour when he was arrested.

Radosavljevic was arrested on July 2 on suspicion that he abused the position and caused a loss of RSD 207 million to the company, by concluding a detrimental contract with the Wizz Air company.

The Belgrade Airport director is suspected of concluding a memorandum of understanding with Wizz Air on January 29, 2010, thus approving the use of airport services below cost, including a 20 percent travel tax discount, although such conditions could not be offered to any company.

Photo Tanjug, N. Milosevic (illustration)