House searches are underway in Ljubljana and Celje. "The investigation, headed by the specialized State Prosecution Office in Ljubljana, is looking into the suspected criminal offence of money laundering. A 46-year-old male from the area of Velenje and two other males, a 46-year-old and a 58-year-old from the area of Ljubljana, have been taken into custody and detained," is what the Celje police had to say.

According to unofficial media reports those detained are the former boss of the Teš thermal power plant, Uroš Rotnik, financier Bogdan Pušnik, who is also the founder of the former brokerage Medvešek Pušnik, as well tax advisor Darko Končan, who is also a former state secretary at the Finance Ministry.

Celje's Criminal Police explained that the suspects are believed to have laundered around 870.000 euros between the years 2007 and 2013. Unofficially Rotnik also tried to hide the sources of part of his assets.

The police believes that the suspects tried to launder unlawfully gained assets with different fake businesses. According to the police the money in question came from the period between 2006 and 2009, and was gained through acts of abuse of office. The suspects received the money between the years 2007 and 2013. The money laundering process has been taking place this year, and is still taking place.

Police detectives already detained Rotnik and Pušnik after house searches in June last year. Rotnik was then suspected of forgery and the destruction of business documents.

G. C., A. Č.; translated by K. J.