Marko Kricak, 42, who heads Serbia’s criminal police directorate, was arrested on Sunday along with Bosko Sekulovic, the police commander responsible for combating organized crime, according to Belgrade’s chief prosecutor. The arrests came as the prosecutor’s office said the two were suspected of abusing their positions and neglecting their official duties, which allegedly caused harm to Veselin Milic, the former chief of Belgrade’s police force.
The investigation centers on the alleged failure to properly handle evidence related to the murder of a suspected criminal figure at a Belgrade restaurant in May. Milic, who was arrested days after the incident on charges of failing to report the crime and aiding the perpetrator, subsequently filed legal complaints against Kricak and Sekulovic while in custody. Milic accused the two officers of providing prosecutors with incomplete and false information.
Kricak has been viewed as closely aligned with former President Aleksandar Vucic and faced criticism from student activist groups regarding police conduct during recent demonstrations. These groups had called for his removal along with other police and intelligence leadership as part of broader institutional reforms. However, the prosecutor’s office stated there was no connection between the arrests and the outcome of elections held a week ago that resulted in significant political change.
The arrests occurred as Serbia observed a commemoration marking two years since a railway station disaster in Novi Sad. Thousands gathered at the site where a concrete canopy collapsed at the renovated station, resulting in 16 fatalities. The crowd observed a moment of silence for each victim as student-led marchers proceeded through rain carrying wreaths. The incident sparked major protests that contributed to subsequent political developments in the country.
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