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Belgrade - Serbia's richest man Miroslav Miskovic, charged with abuse of power and tax evasion, was released on record €12m ($15.8m) bail pending trial, his company said Tuesday.
Miskovic was released from a Belgrade detention unit after it posted the requested amount, the highest set so far in Serbia, Delta holding company said on its website.
Prosecutors have accused Miskovic of abuse of power during the privatisation of several state-run companies engaged in road construction, illegally gaining €153.1m ($200.5m) and evading taxes worth €4.2m.
The 68-year-old had been detained since his arrest in December along with his son Marko, who is also indicted. Ten other people were also charged in the same case.
If found guilty, they face up to 10 years' imprisonment, the prosecutor said.
Miskovic's arrest came amid a government campaign to root out corruption, a key condition in Serbia's bid to join the European Union.
One of the most influential businessmen in the Balkans, Miskovic had close ties to the late strongman Slobodan Milosevic. His wealth is estimated at around €2.3bn ($3bn).
Local media have speculated for years about Miskovic's influence on Serbian politics and ties with top-level politicians, which he allegedly used to obtain the best deals for his business.
Over the past decade, he expanded his vast Delta Holding empire -- which includes real estate, food production, retail and insurance -- throughout the region.
But he has slowly begun to sell off some of his businesses, including the supermarket chain Delta Maxi, which he sold to a Belgian company last year for almost €1bn.
