Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday that Delta Holding owner Miroslav Miskovic, arrested three days ago, used to pay some politicians between 30,000 and 50,000 euros a month, but did not name the people who allegedly took bribes from one of the richest and most influential Serbs, who has been placed in 30 days' detention.
Vucic told the press he had information that a number of people received those sums from Miskovic and that "competent state bodies" should collect the evidence.
Vucic said many politicians "were openly and without hesitation on Miskovic's side and the side of the state" and that this was being investigated.
Asked if the investigation would focus on Miskovic's other dealings and not only on wrongdoing in the privatisation of road companies, for which he was arrested with his son and a group of associates, Vucic said "a number of cases are being investigated" and that the prosecution would launch proceedings once it had sufficient evidence.
Commenting on media speculations that a top official in PM Ivica Dacic's Socialist Party of Serbia had tried to warn Miskovic about the arrest, Vucic said he had information that would be of interest to many but that the media's information was incorrect.
He voiced confidence that investigators, prosecutors and judges "will do their job honorably and professionally" and that Miskovic's arrest had shown that nobody in Serbia was privileged.
Judicial and investigating bodies in Bosnia and Herzegovina have also begun probing the operation and privatisation of several companies in the country owned by Delta Holding, the Federation entity's broadcaster FTV report.
It said the Sarajevo cantonal prosecutor had ordered an investigation into Delta Holding's privatisation of the local company Standard.
