21. 02. 2004

Beta journalist wins damages

POZAREVAC, February 21, 2004 – The trial chamber of the Pozarevac Municipal Court has decided to partially grant the request of Beta news agency Pozarevac correspondent for compensation over mental anguish and damage to his reputation. Judges ordered the Serbian interior ministry to pay Mile Veljkovic 100,000 dinars (1,500 euros) and an additional 58,000 dinars (750 euros) to his lawyer for expenses incurred. The court ruled that Veljkovic had been illegally detained on the night of May 8-9, 2000, and subsequently spent 20 hours at the police station in Mali Crnic. He was not allowed to contact his family, lawyer, office or doctors, despite telling the police he had diabetes. The court also established that the correspondent had been illegally detained on August 23, 2000 with other journalists from the Hungarian television station “RTL Club” while filming an entertainment report. He was interrogated for approximately 4 hours at the Pozarevac police station.