Serbia arrests police chief Marko Kricak over abuse of office

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 2 Nov, 10:33 · Archive

Serbian authorities arrested the head of the criminal police directorate on suspicion of abuse of office.

Serbian authorities arrested Marko Kricak, head of the criminal police directorate, on Sunday on suspicion of abuse of office. He was arrested alongside Bosko Sekulovic, the police commander in charge of fighting organised crime, according to Belgrade's chief prosecutor Nenad Stefanovic.

Kricak, 42, is accused of suppressing and manipulating an investigation into the May murder of a suspected criminal underworld figure in a Belgrade restaurant. The former police chief Veselin Milic, arrested days after the murder for failing to report it and helping the perpetrator, accused Kricak and Sekulovic of providing prosecutors with incomplete and false evidence.

Kricak, seen as a loyalist to defeated President Aleksandar Vucic, has been accused by student groups of brutality in the police response to anti-Vucic demonstrations. Student leaders demanded his removal as part of sweeping reforms after the opposition Student List defeated Vucic's right-wing party in parliamentary elections on 25 October, ending 14 years of rule. However, chief prosecutor Stefanovic said the arrest had no link with the election result. DW reports that Kricak is also alleged to have personally led the abduction of university students, allegedly assaulting one female student and threatening to rape her in the basement of a government building.

How it is being reported

• Serbia: Police chief arrested for abuse of officeMarko Kricak, an Aleksandar Vucic loyalist, is accused of suppressing and manipulating an investigation into a gangland murder. Prosecutors say the arrest is not linked to Vucic's recent election defeat.DW News · 1 Nov, 17:16
• Serbia: Police chief arrested after election for abuse of officeMarko Kricak, an Aleksandar Vucic loyalist, is accused of suppressing and manipulating an investigation into a gangland murder. Prosecutors say the arrest is not linked to Vucic's recent election defeat.DW News · 1 Nov, 17:16
• Serbia arrests police chief over abuse of office allegationsBelgrade's chief prosecutor says arrest of Marko Kricak 'has no link' to elections that saw Aleksandar Vucic step down.Al Jazeera · 1 Nov, 15:36

In this story: Marko Kricak · Aleksandar Vucic · Nenad Stefanovic · Bosko Sekulovic · Veselin Milic · Student List · Serbian Progressive Party · Belgrade

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log