Prosecutors ask Justice Dept to help investigate NGOs

“The Special Anti-Corruption Department of the Higher Public Prosecution in Belgrade has initiated a case and contacted the US Justice Department for information regarding suspicions raised by high-ranking US officials concerning USAID in relation to the abuse of funds, possible money laundering, and the improper spending of American taxpayers' funds in Serbia,” it said and added that those statements mentioned projects in Serbia. It listed US officials including President Donald Trump, State Secretary Marco Rubio, Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chief Elon Musk and FBI Director Kash Patel.

It quoted chief Public Prosecutor Nenad Stefanovic that information on the allocation and spending of USAID funds is not available automatically, adding that USAID decides what information to provide prosecutors if there is suspicion of wrongdoing.

The request to the Justice Department comes after a preliminary investigation by Serbian anti-corruption prosecutors into abuse of office and money laundering against as yet unidentified individuals, Stefanovic is quoted as saying. “He said that the excessive concentration of funds in the accounts of several NGOs or related consulting firms in Serbia, combined with a non-transparent process of allocating funds exclusively to a narrow circle of NGOs and the absence of comprehensive financial reports, indicates grounds for suspicion about the legality of USAID's fund expenditures,” the statement said.

It said the Justice Department is being asked to provide evidence, information or expert findings, financial, business, or accounting records from banks or other financial institutions, and identify or locate proceeds from crime or other matters that may serve as evidence in criminal proceedings in Serbia.

The statement said the police were instructed to collect information needed to determine if crimes have been committed. It specified that 4 NGOs are being investigated at present – CRTA, Civic Initiatives, the Policy Center and Trag Foundation.

Additionally, he emphasized that the Special Department for the Suppression of Corruption of the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade has sent requests for gathering necessary information to the National Bank of Serbia and the Administration for the Prevention of Money Laundering, in order to verify the monetary transactions of the aforementioned NGOs.