Police make new crime group arrests

Police have arrested nine members of a criminal group suspected of several serious crimes. According to police, a coordinated action led by the Interior Ministry saw the arrest of nine crime group members suspected of armed robbery, drug dealing and car theft on the territory of Belgrade, Indjija, Stara Pazova and Nova Pazova. Police make new crime group arrests Marko Ljubic (23), Obrad Peic (23), Nikola Jeremic (23), Pavle Poprzan (23), Dragan Ninic (39), Darko Stojanovic (23), Vladimir Piljagic (29) from Nova Pazova, and Milorad Ristivojevic (23) and Milos Munjiza (20) from Stara Pazova were arrested. The suspects allegedly committed the crimes in 2007 and 2008 in New Belgrade, threatening victims with weapons, stealing cars, but also robbing banks, post offices, petrol stations, and exchange offices in Belgrade, Indjija, Stara Pazova and Nova Pazova. Three of the suspects also broke into a home in Nova Pazova, demanding money from the homeowner and assaulting him. The victim of the robbery attempt was able to get to his hunting rifle and fired several shots, hitting one of the assailants. The suspects then fired back, but did not hit him, leaving them to faces charges of attempted murder as well. The assailants then drove to the home of one of the other suspects, who buried the weapons and took the wounded suspect to hospital, where he was treated and then arrested. Earlier, the Justice Ministry said that the latest arrests of organized crime suspects would serve no purpose if the court proceedings took too long. Justice Ministry Secretary of State Slobodan Homen pointed out after a meeting on police and prosecution cooperation that justice institutions needed to be toughened in order to stand in the path of organized crime. He said that “we need brave and strong judges,” adding that changes already adopted, such as new laws in that realm, would revolutionize the struggle with crime. Homen said that the first step in enacting in one of these new laws, a law on the seizure of criminally acquired assets, could be expected in mid-March.

Police make new crime group arrests

Marko Ljubić (23), Obrad Peić (23), Nikola Jeremić (23), Pavle Popržan (23), Dragan Ninić (39), Darko Stojanović (23), Vladimir Piljagić (29) from Nova Pazova, and Milorad Ristivojević (23) and Miloš Munjiza (20) from Stara Pazova were arrested.

The suspects allegedly committed the crimes in 2007 and 2008 in New Belgrade, threatening victims with weapons, stealing cars, but also robbing banks, post offices, petrol stations, and exchange offices in Belgrade, Inđija, Stara Pazova and Nova Pazova.

Three of the suspects also broke into a home in Nova Pazova, demanding money from the homeowner and assaulting him.

The victim of the robbery attempt was able to get to his hunting rifle and fired several shots, hitting one of the assailants. The suspects then fired back, but did not hit him, leaving them to faces charges of attempted murder as well.

The assailants then drove to the home of one of the other suspects, who buried the weapons and took the wounded suspect to hospital, where he was treated and then arrested.

Earlier, the Justice Ministry said that the latest arrests of organized crime suspects would serve no purpose if the court proceedings took too long.

Justice Ministry Secretary of State Slobodan Homen pointed out after a meeting on police and prosecution cooperation that justice institutions needed to be toughened in order to stand in the path of organized crime.

He said that “we need brave and strong judges,” adding that changes already adopted, such as new laws in that realm, would revolutionize the struggle with crime.

Homen said that the first step in enacting in one of these new laws, a law on the seizure of criminally acquired assets, could be expected in mid-March.