Serbia's court for organized crime arrested more than a dozen former top officials at a major state-run coal mine and several private businessmen Thursday, for allegedly participating in a fraud scheme at one of the nation's main coal mines.

A total of 17 men are suspected of embezzling money from the state run Kolubara mine, which is part of the Serbia's Elektroprivreda Srbije power monopoly

The men are believed to have leased mining machinery from private companies at inflated prices and then shared the profits. The suspects can be held for 30 days while the investigation continues.

The probe, which started Thursday, is part of Serbia's attempt to curb organized crime, graft and widespread corruption, as the country formally seeks to become a candidate for European Union membership this year. The EU will issue its latest progress report on October 12.