Politics1 min read

Serbia arrests police chief over abuse of office allegations

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Criminal police directorate head Marko Kricak and organised crime commander Bosko Sekulovic were detained for allegedly violating their duties and harming the legal rights of former Belgrade police chief Veselin Milic. The accusations originated while Milic was held in custody regarding an investigation into a May restaurant killing. The high-profile arrests occurred alongside the two-year anniversary of the deadly Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse that claimed 16 lives. That railway disaster originally catalyzed nationwide protests that forced Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and President Aleksandar Vucic from office.

Key points

  • Serbian authorities arrested two senior police officials over alleged abuse of office rel…: Serbian authorities arrested two senior police officials over alleged abuse of office related to a Belgrade restaurant murder inquiry.
  • Prosecutors publicly denied that the detentions were linked to the student-backed Student…: Prosecutors publicly denied that the detentions were linked to the student-backed Student List's victory that ended 14 years of rule by Aleksandar Vucic's party.
  • The arrests coincided with public memorials for the Novi Sad station collapse that initia…: The arrests coincided with public memorials for the Novi Sad station collapse that initially sparked protests unseating Serbia's top leadership.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Belgrade’s chief prosecutor says arrest of Marko Kricak ‘has no link’ to elections that saw Aleksandar Vucic step down.

Serbian authorities have arrested the head of the country’s criminal police directorate on suspicion of abuse of office, while denying there are any links to elections held a week ago.

Marko Kricak, 42, was arrested on Sunday along with the police commander in charge of fighting organised crime, Bosko Sekulovic, Belgrade’s chief prosecutor said.

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Prosecutor Nenad Stefanovic said the two were suspected of abusing their offices and failing to uphold their duties, “thus causing prejudice and serious harm to the rights of Belgrade’s former police chief”, Veselin Milic.

The allegations surfaced in an investigation into the murder of a suspected criminal underworld figure in a Belgrade restaurant in May.

Milic, who was arrested days after…

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