Serbia arrests police chief over abuse of office allegations

“Abuse of office” means using official power improperly, or failing official duties, in ways that harm someone’s legal rights. It matters because public officials must act lawfully, fairly, and honestly, especially during criminal investigations.

In Serbia, prosecutors accused criminal police director Marko Kricak and organised-crime commander Bosko Sekulovic. They allegedly abused their positions and failed to perform their duties, causing serious harm to former Belgrade police chief Veselin Milic. Milic also accused them of giving prosecutors incomplete and false evidence during an investigation into a May restaurant murder. These remain allegations, not proven findings.

Kricak and Sekulovic were arrested on Sunday, according to chief prosecutor Nenad Stefanovic. He said the arrests had no connection with October 25 elections or student demands for Kricak’s removal. The case will determine whether their conduct broke the law. It also shows why accurate evidence and accountable policing matter during politically tense periods.

Serbian authorities arrested two senior police officials over alleged abuse of office and failure to perform their duties. The arrests matter because both men held prominent roles, while the case involves alleged harm to a former police chief.

Marko Kricak, 42, headed Serbia’s criminal police directorate. Bosko Sekulovic commanded the police unit fighting organised crime. Belgrade Chief Prosecutor Nenad Stefanovic announced their Sunday arrests. He said they allegedly harmed former Belgrade police chief Veselin Milic through incomplete or false evidence.

The prosecutor’s office denied any link to elections or student demands. The source identifies Stefanovic as the official who announced the arrests, but does not name anyone who ordered them. Both officials therefore face allegations, not a conviction, as the investigation continues.

The arrests came during a major political transition, not an unchanged political landscape. The student-backed Student List won a historic victory in Serbia’s October 25 snap legislative elections. That result ended 14 years of rule by Aleksandar Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party, raising questions about accountability and institutional reform.

Vucic called the election after nearly two years of protests and had stepped down as president in September. Students had demanded the removal of Kricak and other police and intelligence chiefs, accusing police of brutality during demonstrations. Prosecutor Nenad Stefanovic nevertheless said Kricak’s arrest had no connection to the election result or student demands.

Thus, the arrests occurred alongside a powerful change in political authority, but their legal basis remained separate. Kricak and Bosko Sekulovic face allegations involving abuse of office and failures connected to evidence in a murder investigation. The student victory may increase pressure for reforms, but the article does not establish what government will follow or whether prosecutions will broaden.

The murder inquiry widened when Veselin Milic, Belgrade’s former police chief, challenged how investigators handled his case. He accused senior officers of giving prosecutors incomplete and false evidence, turning the case into allegations of police misconduct.

The original crime was the May killing of a suspected underworld figure in a Belgrade restaurant. Milic was arrested days later for allegedly failing to report the murder and helping the perpetrator. While detained, he launched legal action against criminal police chief Marko Kricak and organised-crime commander Bosko Sekulovic. Prosecutors then suspected both officers abused their offices and failed their duties, seriously harming Milic’s rights.

Authorities arrested Kricak and Sekulovic on Sunday, but prosecutor Nenad Stefanovic said the arrests were unrelated to the October 25 elections. Kricak was viewed as an Aleksandar Vucic loyalist and faced student accusations of brutality during protests. The case combines a specific evidence dispute with wider distrust of police leadership. The prosecutor’s office has not connected it to student demands.

Abuse of office means allegedly using public authority improperly or failing to perform official duties. If proven, it can bring prosecution, dismissal, and lasting damage to an official’s career. The accused still deserve a fair investigation and trial.

Here, prosecutor Nenad Stefanovic says Kricak and Bosko Sekulovic caused serious harm to former police chief Veselin Milic’s rights. The case grew from a murder investigation, after Milic accused them of giving incomplete and false evidence. Because Kricak was seen as loyal to Aleksandar Vucic, critics may suspect political motives, despite the prosecutor’s denial.

Trust could improve if evidence is transparent and courts act independently. It could fall further if arrests seem selective, especially after students accused Kricak of brutality. The arrest’s impact remains uncertain: authorities announced suspicion, not guilt, and gave no link to the October 25 election result.

The collapse became a national symbol of official responsibility, not merely an accident. It focused anger on safety, accountability, and how public projects were managed.

At Novi Sad’s newly renovated railway station, a concrete canopy fell and killed 16 people. On the anniversary, thousands marched silently, carrying wreaths and observing 16 minutes of silence. Students said calling it a “tragedy” could hide the word “responsibility,” turning grief into demands for answers and reform.

Those demands helped drive Serbia’s largest protests since Slobodan Milosevic fell in 2000. Prime Minister Milos Vucevic resigned in January 2025, while Aleksandar Vucic stepped down as president in September. Thousands still gathered two years later, showing the collapse remains a powerful symbol. The events suggest unresolved responsibility can broaden a local disaster into nationwide pressure for political change.

Rule of law means everyone, including police and political leaders, answers to the same laws. Independent prosecutors and courts must investigate alleged wrongdoing without political pressure. This protects rights and public trust.

In Serbia, authorities arrested criminal police chief Marko Kricak and organised-crime commander Bosko Sekulovic. Prosecutor Nenad Stefanovic said they allegedly abused their offices and harmed former police chief Veselin Milic’s rights. An impartial process should weigh evidence, not personal loyalty or election results.

Stefanovic said the arrest had “no link” to October 25 elections, though Kricak was seen as Vucic’s loyalist. The Student List’s victory ended 14 years of Serbian Progressive Party rule. Transparent investigations can now test the allegations and the prosecutor’s claim, showing whether justice is truly impartial.