The Higher Court in Belgrade on Tuesday ordered 30 days of detention for the head of Serbia's Criminal Police Directorate, Marko Kricak, and the head of the Crime Suppression Service, Bosko Sekulovic, on charges of abuse of official position, with Kricak also charged with mistreatment and torture in connection with a murder in a Belgrade restaurant in May.
The court ordered the detention to prevent the two officials from influencing witnesses. The Higher Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade said it would complain about the decision and demand that detention be ordered both on that ground and to prevent any repeat of the criminal offence within a short period, as it had earlier proposed.
Kricak and Sekulovic were arrested on Sunday, a week after parliamentary elections in which the long-ruling Serbian Progressive Party lost power after 14 years. Belgrade's chief prosecutor, Nenad Stefanovic, insisted on Monday that the arrests "have nothing to do with electoral processes or the results of the parliamentary elections".
The charges stem from the murder of A.N. at the "27" restaurant in Belgrade on May 12. A body found in a metal drum buried near the town of Indjija on May 21 was confirmed five days later to be that of A.N., whom media reported to be a gangland figure.
The prosecution said Kricak and Sekulovic are suspected of abusing their official positions and failing to perform their official duty during their handling of the case. Their actions between May 12 and June 3 allegedly caused damage and violated the rights of the former head of the Belgrade Police Department, Veselin Milic, who was arrested on May 15 on suspicion that he assisted an offender in the murder and failed to report the crime. In June, the Higher Prosecutor's Office dropped part of the complaint relating to assisting an offender after the commission of a crime.
According to the prosecution, Sekulovic drafted a criminal complaint that also named Milic even though he knew Milic had left the restaurant before the murder took place, and Kricak allegedly gave verbal approval to submit the complaint despite being aware of its contents.
Kricak is also suspected of having used force against people suspected of involvement in the murder. "Additionally, there are grounds for suspicion that Marko K. on May 16, 2026 ... abused the victim N.L. while performing his official duties, in such a way that he, together with unidentified police officers, first struck him with open hands and closed fists in the head area, and placed a hood over his head, suffocating him," the prosecution's press release said. Kricak is further suspected of removing the victim's socks and beating him on the soles of his feet and back with a belt.
During the massive anti-government protests in Serbia in the last two years, some protesters have claimed that Kricak used force against them. One female detainee, Nikolina Sindjelic, said in August 2025 that Kricak had threatened her with rape. He has not been prosecuted over these allegations.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The detention of the two most senior officials of Serbia's criminal police is a rare step against top law enforcement figures and could test whether the justice system will hold them to account over a high-profile murder case.
- The arrests come a week after the Serbian Progressive Party lost parliamentary elections after 14 years in power, and prosecutors have moved to distance the case from the political change.
- The case also centres on allegations of torture during police work, an issue that has swirled around Kricak during two years of anti-government protests.
Background
Serbia's parliamentary elections in late October 2026 ended 14 years of rule by the Serbian Progressive Party. For the past two years, the country has seen large anti-government protests, during which some demonstrators accused Kricak of using force against them. The murder of A.N. in May and the discovery of his body in a metal drum drew particular attention, and the case has now produced criminal charges against the officials who handled it.
Key Perspectives
- The Higher Court in Belgrade: ordered 30 days of detention for Kricak and Sekulovic to prevent them influencing witnesses.
- The Higher Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade: said it would complain about the court's decision and seek detention also to prevent a repeat of the criminal offence within a short period.
- Belgrade's chief prosecutor, Nenad Stefanovic: insisted the arrests "have nothing to do with electoral processes or the results of the parliamentary elections".
- The prosecution: alleges Sekulovic drafted a criminal complaint naming Veselin Milic despite knowing Milic had left the restaurant before the murder, that Kricak approved it, and that Kricak used force, including beating a suspect with a belt and placing a hood over his head.
What to Watch
- The outcome of the prosecutors' complaint against the court's detention ruling.
- Whether the investigation brings charges against additional officers, particularly those described as unidentified in the torture allegation.
- Whether the new government takes any position on the case or on the allegations of police violence raised by protesters.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedSerbia detained two police officials on abuse-of-office charges.Balkan Insight: “The Higher Court in Belgrade on Tuesday ordered 30 days of detention for the head of the Criminal Police Directorate, Marko Kricak, and the head of the Crime Suppression Service, Bosko Sekulovic. They are charged with abuse of official position”
- SupportedKricak is also charged with mistreatment and torture linked to a murder in a Belgrade restaurant.Balkan Insight: “while Kricak is also charged with mistreatment and torture, both linked to a murder in a Belgrade restaurant in May.”
- SupportedThe court ordered 30 days' detention for Kricak and Sekulovic.Balkan Insight: “The Higher Court in Belgrade on Tuesday ordered 30 days of detention for the head of the Criminal Police Directorate, Marko Kricak, and the head of the Crime Suppression Service, Bosko Sekulovic.”
- SupportedThe Higher Prosecutor's Office said it would complain and seek detention both to prevent witness influence and to prevent a repeat offence within a short period.Balkan Insight: “the Higher Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade said it would complain about the court’s decision and demand that detention be ordered both due to the potential to influence witnesses and to prevent any repeat of the criminal offence within a short period of time”
- SupportedKricak and Sekulovic were arrested on Sunday, a week after parliamentary elections in which the Serbian Progressive Party lost power after 14 years.Balkan Insight: “Kricak and Sekulovic were arrested on Sunday, a week after parliamentary elections in which the long-ruling Serbian Progressive Party lost power after 14 years.”
- SupportedChief prosecutor Nenad Stefanovic said the arrests had “nothing to do with electoral processes or the results of the parliamentary elections”.Balkan Insight: “Belgrade’s chief prosecutor, Nenad Stefanovic, insisted on Monday that the arrests “have nothing to do with electoral processes or the results of the parliamentary elections”.”
- SupportedThe charges relate to the murder of A.N. at the “27” restaurant in Belgrade on May 12.Balkan Insight: “Kricak and Sekulovic are suspected of abusing their official positions and of “failing to perform their official duty” during their handling of the case of the murder of A.N. in “27” Belgrade’s restaurant on May 12”
- SupportedA body found in a metal drum near Indjija on May 21 was confirmed five days later to be A.N.Balkan Insight: “On May 21, police found a dead body in a metal drum buried near the town of Indjija. Five days later, it was confirmed that it belonged to A.N.”
- SupportedProsecutors suspect Kricak and Sekulovic of abusing their official positions and failing to perform their duties in handling the case.Balkan Insight: “Kricak and Sekulovic are suspected of abusing their official positions and of “failing to perform their official duty” during their handling of the case of the murder of A.N.”
- SupportedProsecutors alleged that the officials' actions from May 12 to June 3 caused damage and violated former Belgrade police chief Veselin Milic's rights.Balkan Insight: “Their actions between May 12 and June 3 allegedly caused damage and also violated the rights of the former head of the Belgrade Police Department, Veselin Milic.”
- SupportedThe prosecution's release said Kricak and unidentified officers struck N.L., put a hood over his head and suffocated him on May 16, 2026.Balkan Insight: ““Additionally, there are grounds for suspicion that Marko K. on May 16, 2026 … abused the victim N.L. while performing his official duties, in such a way that he, together with unidentified police officers, first struck him with open hands and closed fists in the head area, and placed a hood over his head, suffocating him,””
- SupportedKricak is suspected of removing N.L.'s socks and beating the soles of his feet and his back with a belt.Balkan Insight: “Furthermore, Kricak is suspected of removing the victim’s socks and of beating him on the soles of his feet and back with a belt.”