Nothing new in Pozarevac

It seems that the country has turned upside down in Serbia and that "the second judge has been created" at all levels of government, except in the judiciary, more precisely - in the prosecutor's office. Two resistance fighters from Pozarevac, Momčilo Veljković and Radojko Luković, and a bystander Nebojša Sokolović, who were brutally beaten by Marko Milošević's gang in the spring of last year and who served two months in prison as a punishment for being beaten, are not yet full members of this society. They are charged with participating in the fight, and Veljković is charged with attempted murder. They did not appear before the court. First, the trial scheduled for December 19 was postponed, and about fifteen days ago, the judge of the District Court in Požarevac, Dragan Vučićević, accepted the request of the District Public Prosecutor's Office (OJT) to postpone the trial again because the files were forwarded to the Republic Public Prosecutor's Office (RJT). (By the way, the judge, the acting prosecutor and his deputy suddenly went on sick leave, and the president of the court, Slobodan Čogurić, got lost.)

AWAITING INSTRUCTIONS: Where do the files in the prosecutor's office come from when it is known that after the indictment is filed, they are sent to the court? According to Dragan Petrović, acting deputy of the OJT in Požarevac, for "Vreme", since the indictment was filed in June of last year until today, the court has not done anything, so the files in the court are the same as those kept by the Požarevac prosecutor's office. OJT forwarded it to RJT about ten days before the scheduled search, requesting new instructions. "The court could have accepted or rejected our request for postponement of the trial," says Petrović, who confirms that he and Acting OJT Dmitar Krstev once asked for and received a written recommendation from the RJT on what kind of indictment to file. I guess they should insure themselves because, as Petrović roughly said, they did not share the opinion of the highest instance. (It is said that the argument of a police general who put pressure on them was: "You have evidence, do as you are told.")

The question is whether this insurance will be enough for them. The district attorney's office can drop the prosecution at any time, but then it would be faced with the question of why it filed the indictment in the first place. I guess that's why he's trying to buy time by asking for new instructions from the public prosecutor of the republic, who hasn't been elected yet.

"It's true that we don't have a republican public prosecutor yet, but the bigger problem is in the mentality - competent prosecutors don't think to do their job and wait for someone to decide for them." And innocent people are threatened, they are denied their civil rights and compensation for the damage that the state owes them", says Gradimir Nalić, advisor to the president of Kostunica for human rights, who was familiar with this case from the beginning.

If the prosecutors would, however, drop the criminal prosecution, they would have to inform the accused and the court about it. If the accused agree, the process is terminated, otherwise the trial continues until the accused are declared innocent (which should not be doubted, because all three participated in the fight by being beaten, and the fact that Veljković was defending himself at one point snatched the gun from the attacker was qualified as "attempted murder"). Well, then the injured party could ask for heavy compensation from the state.

"We want complete rehabilitation, punishment of the real culprits and adequate compensation for mental and physical abuse and unjustified two-month detention," Momčilo Veljković is categorical. One of his lawyers, Borivoje Borović, also shares the opinion that we should go all the way: "The trial in which they will be acquitted is being delayed not only because of the scandal that will break, but also so that the real culprits will get away."

THE CONSEQUENCES: Momčilo Veljković assesses that by postponing the trial of the accused, human rights are still being violated: "We can't get passports, we can't find work, we are on the edge of existence." I equally blame the former and current government for our position. All the opposition members at that time made promises to us and all of them gained political points from us. The Democratic Party promised us material aid. Of that, if you don't count the help of individuals - nothing. In mid-July, our open letter asking for help was distributed to all DOS leaders. No results. DS spokesman Saša Vasić once initiated a criminal complaint against SUP Požarevac and Ivan Marković, and when I asked him the other day what he would make of it, he replied that it was no longer important and that they only used it for marketing purposes. "

Radojko Luković, who made good money by selling foreign currency, says that, attracted by the promises of Velja Ilic, he joined his party. It was supposed to be in the 100th place of the DOS list, a passing place, so it was struggling. In the end, he came in last, 250th place. He lives on his mother's pension and occasionally works as a waiter. His health deteriorated, and his sister fell ill. In the meantime, Sokolović buried his father, who may have been affected by that trauma. Veljković's family also has health problems directly caused by arrest, beatings, mistreatment...

The Republic's public prosecutor has not been elected yet, and we don't know when he will be. Minister Batić tells "Vreme" that the situation in the judiciary will be settled during March and April:

"We will quickly resolve disputes with a political sign, I can promise that." The intention is to rehabilitate the victims of political processes since 1945, let alone last year. I don't know if the three Požare residents will be a priority because the government cannot influence the judiciary, which should be independent."

An acquaintance said to Momcilo Veljković the other day: "I would hire you, brother, but you know how it is, what if they come to me and see..." The law is the law.