Prisons chief admits security lapses

Security lapses occurred at the Central Prison and an inquiry will be launched says the head of the Administration for the Execution of Penitentiary Sanctions. Milan Obradovic asserts nonetheless that the guards watching over Milorad Ulemek did not accept a bribe to help him in a possible escape bid, but that it was unacceptable that this inmate, of all inmates, should have a plastic pistol in his cell. Prisons chief admits security lapses Interior Minister Ivica Dacic has announced a police probe into allegations that Ulemek was planning to abscond from the Central Prison in Belgrade. The pistol found in Ulemek’s cell would not have fooled a professional, though it was still an accurate copy of the real thing, Obradovic told B92. The prisons boss denied media claims that Ulemek’s guards had been bribed, though he acknowledged that there had been security lapses. “First things first, we’re not running away from this and it’s logical that there was a security lapse. That’s a subjective factor and the most important factor. Our investigation, with the police, needs to unravel who exactly was responsible and how it could have come into the prison,“ he said. Obradovic confirmed that a danger existed of the former Special Operations Unit (JSO) commander's escape, but that this was to be expected given the amount of 40-year sentences facing him. “Anyone in the world with prison sentences of 20, 30 or 40 years hanging over them undoubtedly has plans to escape. That also means that we too have a situation that we have to approach very seriously,“ said the prisons boss. The interior minister pointed out that MUP had no jurisdiction when it came to prisons, but that it policed all other places outside them, which was why it had been suggested that Ulemek should not be transferred to the Military Medical Academy (VMA). He said that all the allegations concerning the former JSO commander’s escape would be looked into. “We didn’t have any operative knowledge that something like this was afoot, but all the facts need to be looked into. When the idea was raised of transferring him to the VMA for treatment, the police made it clear that this wouldn’t be a good idea as it would be a security risk,“ said Dacic. There is no new information as to the whereabouts of the remaining fugitive members of the Zemun Clan, even though MUP has a special task force working on the case, he added.

Prisons chief admits security lapses

Interior Minister Ivica Dačić has announced a police probe into allegations that Ulemek was planning to abscond from the Central Prison in Belgrade.

The pistol found in Ulemek’s cell would not have fooled a professional, though it was still an accurate copy of the real thing, Obradović told B92.

The prisons boss denied media claims that Ulemek’s guards had been bribed, though he acknowledged that there had been security lapses.

“First things first, we’re not running away from this and it’s logical that there was a security lapse. That’s a subjective factor and the most important factor. Our investigation, with the police, needs to unravel who exactly was responsible and how it could have come into the prison,“ he said.

Obradović confirmed that a danger existed of the former Special Operations Unit (JSO) commander's escape, but that this was to be expected given the amount of 40-year sentences facing him.

“Anyone in the world with prison sentences of 20, 30 or 40 years hanging over them undoubtedly has plans to escape. That also means that we too have a situation that we have to approach very seriously,“ said the prisons boss.

The interior minister pointed out that MUP had no jurisdiction when it came to prisons, but that it policed all other places outside them, which was why it had been suggested that Ulemek should not be transferred to the Military Medical Academy (VMA). He said that all the allegations concerning the former JSO commander’s escape would be looked into.

“We didn’t have any operative knowledge that something like this was afoot, but all the facts need to be looked into. When the idea was raised of transferring him to the VMA for treatment, the police made it clear that this wouldn’t be a good idea as it would be a security risk,“ said Dačić.

There is no new information as to the whereabouts of the remaining fugitive members of the Zemun Clan, even though MUP has a special task force working on the case, he added.