Series of arrests over journalist murder

Croatian police have arrested a number of suspects involved in the murder of Nacional newspaper co-owner and journalist Ivo Pukanic. Several people have been arrested, including two Serbian nationals. Serbian Police Chief Milorad Veljovic last night confirmed this information to B92, but could not go into further details. Series of arrests over journalist murder "We are in permanent contact with Croatia’s Police Chief Vladimir Faber in connection with the murder that happened a couple of days ago. Eight people have been arrested, two of whom are Serbian nationals,” Veljovic said. "The Serbian police are in daily contact with our Croatian colleagues, and we are providing full support in shedding light on this criminal act,” he added. Croatian police arrested seven people in central Zagreb and in the vicinity of the town of Vinkovci, including notorious villains Robert Matanic, his cousin Luka, as well as Amir Mafalani, who are suspected of participating in the organization and preparation of the murders of Pukanic and his marketing director, Niko Franjic. Two Serbian nationals, Svetozar Djurovic and Bogoljub Kuzmanovic, were also arrested during yesterday’s operation, who are believed to be members of the criminal network led by Belgrade crime boss Sreten Jocic. Croatian police spokesman Dubravko Novak confirmed that information. “They have been arrested, and are undergoing further criminal procedure. We believe they were involved in this crime,” Novak said. The Matanic cousins were arrested approximately 60 kilometers from the border with Serbia in the Spacva forest, in the vicinity of Vinkovci, where, Djurovic and Kuzmanovic were waiting for them with false documents. After realizing that they had been trapped by the police, they attempted to resist arrest, but the police swiftly overpowered them. The police linked them to the motorcycle that exploded next to Pukanic’s car, whose last registered owner proved to be Robert Matanic. Following that clue, the police then put them under surveillance, following and wire-tapping them, and decided to arrest them when the suspects decided to make for Serbia. Prior to the arrest, Zagreb and Slavonija police screened footage of the assassins as they filmed surveillance cameras placed in the newspaper’s courtyard the day before the murders. The footage also showed a man parking a scooter carrying the bomb next to Pukanic’s car, the police stated. “The footage shows a man who, on the day in question, was riding a scooter with an explosive device just after midday. He then left his motorcycle in the courtyard, and walked out of the premises,” police spokesman Krunoslav Borovec said. The police are certain that the man is an accomplice of the man from the police sketch, and have made a public appeal for information. All the suspects are in custody, where they can be detained for a further 48 hours. Police have until then to provide evidence of their possible involvement in the murders. Assasin at the crime scene as captured by surveillance camera (HRT)

Series of arrests over journalist murder

"We are in permanent contact with Croatia’s Police Chief Vladimir Faber in connection with the murder that happened a couple of days ago. Eight people have been arrested, two of whom are Serbian nationals,” Veljović said.

"The Serbian police are in daily contact with our Croatian colleagues, and we are providing full support in shedding light on this criminal act,” he added.

Croatian police arrested seven people in central Zagreb and in the vicinity of the town of Vinkovci, including notorious villains Robert Matanić, his cousin Luka, as well as Amir Mafalani, who are suspected of participating in the organization and preparation of the murders of Pukanić and his marketing director, Niko Franjić.

Two Serbian nationals, Svetozar Đurović and Bogoljub Kuzmanović, were also arrested during yesterday’s operation, who are believed to be members of the criminal network led by Belgrade crime boss Sreten Jocić.

Croatian police spokesman Dubravko Novak confirmed that information.

“They have been arrested, and are undergoing further criminal procedure. We believe they were involved in this crime,” Novak said.

The Matanić cousins were arrested approximately 60 kilometers from the border with Serbia in the Spačva forest, in the vicinity of Vinkovci, where, Đurović and Kuzmanović were waiting for them with false documents.

After realizing that they had been trapped by the police, they attempted to resist arrest, but the police swiftly overpowered them.

The police linked them to the motorcycle that exploded next to Pukanić’s car, whose last registered owner proved to be Robert Matanić.

Following that clue, the police then put them under surveillance, following and wire-tapping them, and decided to arrest them when the suspects decided to make for Serbia.

Prior to the arrest, Zagreb and Slavonija police screened footage of the assassins as they filmed surveillance cameras placed in the newspaper’s courtyard the day before the murders. The footage also showed a man parking a scooter carrying the bomb next to Pukanić’s car, the police stated.

“The footage shows a man who, on the day in question, was riding a scooter with an explosive device just after midday. He then left his motorcycle in the courtyard, and walked out of the premises,” police spokesman Krunoslav Borovec said.

The police are certain that the man is an accomplice of the man from the police sketch, and have made a public appeal for information.

All the suspects are in custody, where they can be detained for a further 48 hours. Police have until then to provide evidence of their possible involvement in the murders.