Kosovo bank chief arrested in corruption probe

KOSOVO police yesterday arrested the central bank governor on suspicion of corruption in an embarrassment for the government just a day after the World Court backed Kosovo’s independence.

Acting on the orders of an EU prosecutor, police arrested Hashim Rexhepi as part of a probe into corruption, tax evasion and money-laundering, the EU’s rule of law mission (EULEX) said.

The first and only central bank governor since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 is the highest ranking official arrested since EULEX launched several probes into misuse of public funds by high-ranking officials, including members of Prime Minister Hashim Thaci’s cabinet.