Former Serbian Minister of Transport Goran Vesic and twelve other people were indicted on Monday December 30 for “serious endangering public security” in the case of the roof collapse of the Novi Sad station in northern Serbia which left fifteen people dead in early November.
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Forty days after their arrest following the fatal collapse of the awning from Novi Sad station, which left 15 dead13 senior officials are formally charged by the prosecution with serious harm to public security, reports our correspondent in Belgrade, Laurent Rouy. Among them, the former Minister of Transport, Goran Vesic, and the director of railway infrastructure.
“ The indictment was filed in the Novi Sad High Court, with full documentation collected during the pre-investigation and investigation process, as well as all other evidence “, indicated the prosecutor’s office in Novi Sad, the country’s second city, in a press release.
The prosecutor requested that the detention measures be extended for ten people and that the three people released, including Goran Vesic and former railway infrastructure director Jelena Tanaskovic, be placed in detention again. Goran Vesic, who resigned after the tragedy that occurred in front of the Novi Sad station, was detained for a few days before being quickly released.
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“ Nobody intends to hide anything », declares the Serbian Prime Minister
This procedural step is unusually rapid for Serbian justice. Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic said Monday that the filing of the indictment was made less than two months after the tragedy, which he said is “ proof that no one obstructed the trial “. “ This was accomplished in a very short time (…) Which confirms that no one obstructed this matter. Barely two months have passed and we already have an indictment “said Milos Vucevic in a statement to local media. “ It will be a difficult legal process, but it proves that no one intends to hide, conceal or obstruct anything », added the Serbian Prime Minister.
This indictment is received with circumspection by the striking students, who are blocking universities precisely so that light can be shed on the accident in Novi Sad. The students notably demand the resignation of the prime minister, and also criticize the president Aleksandar Vucicdue to corruption and cronyism which is the hallmark of the power in place.
While the regime is unable to find a solution to popular protest, students and the opposition believe that these indictments are just another attempt to quell the crisis.
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