Higher Prosecutor's Office takes over Andrej Vucic case

BELGRADE - The Higher Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade has taken over the conduct of criminal proceedings related to an incident in which members of the Serbian Gendarmerie beat Andrej Vucic, brother to the Serbian prime minister, Predrag Mali, brother to the mayor of Belgrade, and two members of Cobras, a military police special operation battalion.

In a written statement for Tanjug, the prosecutor's office did not say who the investigative proceedings were being conducted against and did not name the criminal offense in question.

After the police submitted all requested information, statements, videos and other evidence relating to the incident, the First Basic Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade forwarded the case files to the Higher Prosecutor's Office on Friday so it could decide whether the case involves any elements that fall under its jurisdiction.

The Higher Prosecutor's Office conducts criminal prosecution for serious offenses that may result in sentences of over 10 years in prison or acts involving violence, or hatred based on ethnic or religious and other grounds.

Senad Kostic, commander of the Gendarmerie detachment in Nis, was relieved of duties following the incident, and criminal charges were filed against seven members of the unit.

The criminal charges were filed following brutal beating and excessive use of force against Andrej Vucic and two members of the Military Security Agency in downtown Belgrade on September 29 while the streets were cordoned off for the Pride Parade.

Photo Video TV N1