Scandal in Serbia: 2 Million Dinars Spent in Months at Leskovac Municipal Company

It has been alleged that the public institution JP Dom, operating in the city of Leskovac, Serbia, spent over 2 million dinars in the past few months. These allegations, brought forward by Aleksandar Drašković, a board member of the Freedom and Justice Party, have raised serious concerns regarding the financial auditing of local governments. According to Drašković, an unprecedented spending spree occurred at the institution under the leadership of acting director Milan Stojković, who was appointed by the Mayor. It is noted that Stojković previously served in the management of Pijaca and was involved in similar controversies. The expenditures in question are being closely scrutinized and shared with the public by opposition parties in the city.

When the details of the expenditures made during this period are examined, highly striking figures emerge. For example, it is reported that 226 thousand dinars were spent solely on 200 liters of beverages, 24 kilograms of coffee, and various sweets. In addition to this, a budget of 240 thousand dinars was allocated for stationery and office supplies. However, one of the most striking expense items was the payments for mobile phone subscriptions. It was stated that the institution paid exactly 773 thousand dinars for mobile phone services.

The scale of the expenditures is not limited to daily needs; according to claims, the institution also paid large sums for financial consultancy services. Drašković highlighted the amount of 840 thousand dinars paid by JP Dom to a private accounting firm, raising a significant question mark. This situation raises questions about whether the institution has its own finance department or staff. If such an internal unit exists, paying such a high fee to an external firm seems illogical. Opposition politicians argue that these expenditures are a clear indication of lack of oversight and resource waste.

Although the main field of activity of JP Dom is generally related to the management of residential and local commercial units, the current situation also raises doubts about the future of these assets. Drašković pointed out that the real estate and shops owned by the institution are decreasing year by year, questioning whether new commercial activities are being undertaken. The disappearance of these publicly owned assets due to rent-seeking or mismanagement harms the interests of the local population. The opposition demands a transparent investigation of this process and accountability for the lost resources. Otherwise, it is warned that these institutions, which exist for the welfare of the local people, may become completely dysfunctional.

The societal dimension of the incident is also highly thought-provoking; as such luxury expenditures by managers contrast sharply with the situation of ordinary citizens who struggle to pay their bills. It is claimed that these managers, appointed by the Mayor, not only collect their salaries but also cover their food, drink, and communication expenses from the public budget. Moreover, while addressing the public, these individuals argue that everything is going very well and that living standards have improved. Drašković criticized this hypocrisy, emphasizing that it is not just the managers but the general public's welfare level that truly needs to be improved. As a result, this financial scandal in Leskovac has brought the issues of transparency and accountability in local governments in Serbia back to the agenda.