Three detained in Serbia in Alta Bank case; owner Davor Macura accused of removing €380m+
Prosecutors say Macura exceeded his authority and, with help from two employees, withdrew about 45 billion dinars from the bank vaults.
Three people have been detained in Serbia in connection with an investigation into Alta Bank AD Belgrade, authorities said, with the bank's owner, Davor Macura, named as the main suspect. Police and the Public Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime have ordered custody for all three for up to 48 hours.
Prosecutors allege large unauthorised cash withdrawals
The Public Prosecutor's Office alleges that Macura abused his position and, by 31 October 2026, exceeded his authority to withdraw cash from the bank's vaults. Investigators say the total amount taken is about 45 billion dinars — more than €380 million.
Two other suspects were identified as G.M., the head of the cash and cash-management department, and I.P., an employee responsible for cashier operations. Prosecutors say those two helped by providing their access cards or by entering the vault together with Macura, creating the conditions for the unauthorised removals.
Searches ordered by the prosecutor were carried out on 31 October and 1 November 2026 in Alta Bank's official premises and in Macura's residential premises. Authorities say they completed a detailed inventory of the cash remaining in the vault during the searches.
The clampdown was carried out by police units including UKP, SBPOK and the Department for Combating Organized Financial Crime. On 27 October 2026 the prosecutor's office requested information from the National Bank of Serbia (NBS) about transfers of funds from Alta Bank abroad.
Macura's lawyer confirmed the initial reports to Serbian media and said his client's hearing before the prosecutor in the Organized Crime office is scheduled for tomorrow after 12:00. The prosecutor has charged D.M. with abuse of the position of a responsible person under Article 227(3) in connection with paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code; the other two are suspected of aiding the offence.
Vice-governors of the National Bank of Serbia have called on the prosecutor to investigate the circumstances that led to the revocation of Alta Bank's licence, authorities said.
Photo: press material from the event
