12. 12. 2003

Policemen in the dock

POZAREVAC, December 12, 2003 – Four Pozarevac policemen have gone on trial for the illegal arrest of three journalists. Interior Affairs Secretariat Radisa Jovic, Police chief Dragomir Milenkovic, Crime Dept. chief Velimir Ivanovic and station commander Nikola Kaurin have been charged with illegally detaining Danas Pozarevac correspondent Mile Veljkovic and journalists Natasa Bogovic and Bojan Toncic. The journalists were due to report from the “Stop Terror” rally on May 9, 2000, organised by the then opposition in protest at the arrest and beating of three Otpor activists. Bogovic and Toncic spent 16 hours at the police station in Zabari, while Veljkovic was held for 22 hours in Mali Crnic. Only Kaurin remains in active police service. The others have all retired.