Serbian 'Press' Denies Murder Plot against Bulgaria's PM

The Serbian daily "Press" has reported that Serbian Interior Ministry did not have any information about a murder plot by Serbian mobster Sreten Josic (Joci?), aka Joca Amsterdam, against the Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov. File photo

The Serbian Interior Ministry does not have information about an assassination plot by Sreten Josic against Bulgaria's PM Boyko Borisov, the Serbian daily “Press” has reported.

The comment of the Serbian Interior Ministry comes a a result of the Thursday's statement by the Bulgarian daily “Standart”, claiming that sources informed it that the Serbian mobster stood at the bottom of a murder plot against Borisov.

Serbian police officers have told the “Press” that Josic, aka Joca Amsterdam, has been “the king of the Bulgarian underworld” and that he still keeps his strong positions in the country.

The newspaper has also stated that its sources from the special agencies do not exclude the option that such statements aim at achieving “PR for inner political goals”.

“The crime ring “Killers” has conducted 12 mafia murders. They have been involved in many murders in Bulgaria and Croatia. It is possible that they have also planned Borisov's murder, but whether they have received an order from Josic or it was their own idea, it is impossible to say,” the daily has stated, adding that the connection between Josic and Borisov has been discussed for 10 years.

“Sreten Josic had really good relations with Borisov's immediate circle. But he was arrested in 2002 when Borisov was secretary general in the Interior Ministry. Josic expected support from his friends, but Bulgaria sent him to the Netherlands, and 4 years later he was extradited to Serbia.” the newspaper states.

The “Press” has also reported that in Bulgaria Josic was living with a fake identity as Marko Milosavljevic.

The former head of the National State Security in Belgrade, Miroslav Milosevic, has told the newspaper that he was not surprised of the news about a potential assassination plot against the Bulgarian PM.

“Borisov is my friend. We had an excellent communication while he was head of the Bulgarian police and I was head of the Serbian police. Once he told me that he had an information that Joca Amsterdam was planning a murder plot against him. That happened shortly after Josic was arrested in 2002,” Milosevic said.

He had also added that in 2005, when there had been an official meeting of police heads from Southeastern Europe in Belgrade, Milosevic wanted Borisov to go, but the Bulgarian has declined the invitation in the last moment because, in his words he had received information that the mafia wanted to kill him.

Milosevic has also said that he not only did not believe the talks about a connection between Josic and Borisov, but he was not even sure if they knew each other.

“I cannot say whether Josic could prepare a murder plot from the prison. However, it is clear that the biggest criminals, whether in jail or not, are always together, and Josic continues to have a big influence on the Bulgarian underworld,” Milosevic said.

Another Serbian media has reported that Josic's lawyer, Velko Delibasic, has stated that the specualtion about an assassination plot against Borisov is "ridiculous".

"There are people all over the world, who are ready to say all sorts of things, in order to receive a witness status. The investigation will prove that Josic does not have any connection to this," Delibasic said.

Currently, Josic is serving a 15-year sentence for murder. He has also been accused of murdering the Croatian journalist Ivo Pukanic.

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