In short
- The Ministry of Interior transferred the case between departments and has yet to submit a report to prosecutors.
- The CINS exposé documented conditional employment and undeclared cash payments linked to the SNS call center.
What happened
Serbian police have failed to interview any suspects in nearly three years of investigating alleged vote-buying and illicit campaign finance involving the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), according to OCCRP. The case has been repeatedly transferred between police departments, with prosecutors sending reminders but receiving no response.
The investigation originated from a November 2023 CINS exposé documenting conditional employment and undeclared cash payments at an SNS call center. Despite official denials from SNS, M&J Lady, and CEROB, the case was cited in the OSCE ODIHR election report as an example of voter pressure and illicit third-party campaign financing.
Based on the conduct so far, one could conclude that the police and the prosecution are accomplices in covering up a crime,
What compliance teams should check
- Review the OSCE ODIHR final election report for references to the CINS investigation and voter pressure typologies.
- Monitor the Ministry of Interior's promised report to the First Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding the SNS call center case.
- Assess compliance risks related to undeclared cash payments and conditional employment practices documented by CINS at the Center for Education and Youth Development of Belgrade (CEROB).
Why it matters
This story highlights persistent gaps in Serbia’s enforcement of campaign finance and anti-corruption laws, with police and prosecutors failing to act on well-documented allegations. For AML/CFT compliance officers, it underscores the importance of monitoring political exposure, third-party financing, and undeclared cash flows, especially during election cycles. The lack of investigative progress and official denials despite credible evidence may signal systemic weaknesses and potential risks for financial institutions dealing with politically exposed persons or entities linked to the case.
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