Šešelj’s alleged ties with Zemun Gang revealed

Šešelj’s alleged ties with Zemun Gang revealed

Dejan Milenković allegedly revealed that Dušan Spasojević was the Radical leader’s informer, so-called Laufer, which Šešelj used to base his two books on.

It was Laufer who allegedly gave Šešelj the information about the organizers and executioners of some of the high profile murders in Serbia.

Deputy SRS president Tomislav Nikolić reacted by saying that Milenković was ready to implicate anyone in his bid to conceal his own responsibility.

“Pointing a finger at Šešelj is the easiest thing to do, since he is detained in the Hague and cannot defend himself”.

“The Gang financed SRS election campaigns”

However, the murdered collaborating witness Zoran Vukojević also linked Šešelj and Spasojević in his testimony.

He said the Zemun Gang leader funded Šešelj’s elections campaigns and the construction of his house, and had even given him a jeep as a present. According to the testimony, Spasojević also tried to convince Šešelj not to surrender to the Hague.

The trial of the Zemun Gang members continued today at the Special Court in Belgrade with the presentation of an earlier statement by another collaborating witness, Miladin Suvajdžić.

After the departure of Judge Marko Kljajević, the process has formally returned to square one, with all the previous witnesses’ statements presented anew.

Yesterday, the court heard a recording of Zoran Vukojević’s testimony. Fugitive Zemun Gang members are suspected of his June 3 murder. The police investigation into the case in ongoing.

“The Gang financed SRS election campaigns”

However, the murdered collaborating witness Zoran Vukojević also linked Šešelj and Spasojević in his testimony.

He said the Zemun Gang leader funded Šešelj’s elections campaigns and the construction of his house, and had even given him a jeep as a present. According to the testimony, Spasojević also tried to convince Šešelj not to surrender to the Hague.

The trial of the Zemun Gang members continued today at the Special Court in Belgrade with the presentation of an earlier statement by another collaborating witness, Miladin Suvajdžić.

After the departure of Judge Marko Kljajević, the process has formally returned to square one, with all the previous witnesses’ statements presented anew.

Yesterday, the court heard a recording of Zoran Vukojević’s testimony. Fugitive Zemun Gang members are suspected of his June 3 murder.

Anastasijević: Close ties

Vreme weekly journalist Dejan Anastasijević believes there is much substance to the witnesses’ statements, although they have never been officially confirmed.

He says a close relationship between Šešelj and Spasojević makes sense, especially bearing in mind the fact Spasojević was planning for Zoran Điniđić’s murder.

“He needed a close political ally after the murder, and Šešelj was the first logical choice”, Anastasijević says.

Anastasijević believes Šešelj’s hasty Hague departure can be related to the fact he knew about Zemun Gang’s plans of solving their problem with the late Prime Minister.

Šešelj surrendered and was transferred to the Hague three weeks before the March 12, 2003, assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić.