Top Security Officials Loyal To Vučić Have Been Detained In Serbia

They could face prison time.

On November 1 in Belgrade, the head of Serbia’s Criminal Police Directorate Marko Kričak and the head of the Crime Prevention Service Boško Sekulović were detained. They are suspected of misconduct during the investigation of a murder, and Kričak is also suspected of torture. The Belgrade High Prosecutor’s Office reported the arrests.

The case concerns the investigation into the murder of Aleksandar Nesović at Restaurant “27” in the Senjak district of Belgrade on May 12. According to the prosecutor’s office, the two police officials exceeded their authority and violated the rights of the former Belgrade police chief Veselin Milic, reports RTVI.

According to a detailed statement from the office, Sekulović forwarded materials in which Milić was suspected of aiding a criminal after a murder and failing to report the crime. At the same time, the prosecutor’s office claims, the police officer was aware of witness statements and surveillance footage confirming that Milić had left the restaurant before the incident. According to the investigation, Krichak approved the transfer of this evidence.

The prosecutor’s office also reported a delay in the military police’s transfer of seized phones and video recordings for examination. Despite repeated requests from the prosecutor, the evidence was not handed over until several days later, and the electronic devices were improperly packaged.

A separate issue concerns the treatment of the restaurant owner. Investigators suspect that on May 16, Krichak, along with other police officers, beat and tortured him at the Criminal Police Directorate. Both officials are suspected of abuse of office, and Krichak is additionally charged with cruel treatment and torture.

Belgrade’s Chief Prosecutor Nenad Stefanović separately dismissed any political connection between the detentions and the recent vote.

“Today’s arrest is in no way connected to the electoral process or the results of the parliamentary elections,” he stated.

According to Stefanović, the preliminary investigation began back in May, when obstacles arose in the prosecutors’ work. At the end of July, a statement from the victim’s lawyers was added to the case file.

Kričak was considered a loyal subordinate of former President Aleksandar Vučić, and the politician himself publicly praised his work, Euronews notes. Participants in anti-government protests had previously accused Krichak and his unit of violence; the Ministry of the Interior rejected these allegations. After the elections, the victorious “Student List” demanded the resignation of a number of police and security service leaders, including Krichak.

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