Serbia detained criminal-police chief Marko Kricak and organised-crime official Bosko Sekulovic on suspicion of abusing office. The case concerns their conduct in a murder investigation involving former Belgrade police chief Veselin Milic. Prosecutor Nenad Stefanovic denied a connection to the recent election, which followed a prolonged student protest movement.
Serbian authorities detained Marko Kricak, head of the country’s criminal police directorate, on Sunday on suspicion of abusing office. The investigation concerns the handling of a murder case. Bosko Sekulovic, a senior police official responsible for combating organised crime, was also detained, according to Belgrade chief prosecutor Nenad Stefanovic.[1], [2]
The underlying case concerns a murder in Belgrade in May. Former city police chief Veselin Milic had been detained on allegations that he failed to report the crime and helped the perpetrator. While in custody, Milic brought legal action against Kricak and Sekulovic. He accused them of supplying incomplete or false evidence to prosecutors. The new allegations concern harm to Milic’s rights and remain accusations awaiting judicial determination.[1]
Stefanovic said the arrests had no connection with the parliamentary election held a week earlier. A student-backed list won that vote against the Serbian Progressive Party. Student groups had separately demanded changes in police leadership over the response to demonstrations. The arrests also coincided with commemorations of the Novi Sad railway-station canopy collapse, whose aftermath developed into nationwide protests.[1]
