Prosecution “slow” in Crna Reka case

State Ombudsman Sasa Jankovic says that the prosecution should have reacted more quickly in the case of abuse at the Crna Reka rehabilitation center. Jankovic told B92 that in any other situation, the Crna Reka center would have been closed the day after the footage of the beatings leaked, which had not happened. Prosecution “slow” in Crna Reka case Stating that it was not his job to comment on the work of the prosecution, Jankovic said that there were two key reasons for the slow reaction. “You might expect in another situation that the center would have been closed the day the footage came out. However, there are probably strong reasons in our society that show that this is not so,” he said. “One reason is the fact that the center was working under the auspices of the church, and that our church enjoys autonomy, and that is a topic that was mentioned—that the borders of the church here are undefined,” Jankovic said. He added that another reason was that the state did not have a solution for people housed in that facility. Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said earlier that there would be a swift police reaction and that all the necessary charges would be filed regarding the abuse at the Crna Reka complex, adding that there would also be an investigation into financial irregularities at the center.

Prosecution “slow” in Crna Reka case

Stating that it was not his job to comment on the work of the prosecution, Janković said that there were two key reasons for the slow reaction.

“You might expect in another situation that the center would have been closed the day the footage came out. However, there are probably strong reasons in our society that show that this is not so,” he said.

“One reason is the fact that the center was working under the auspices of the church, and that our church enjoys autonomy, and that is a topic that was mentioned—that the borders of the church here are undefined,” Janković said.

He added that another reason was that the state did not have a solution for people housed in that facility.

Interior Minister Ivica Dačić said earlier that there would be a swift police reaction and that all the necessary charges would be filed regarding the abuse at the Crna Reka complex, adding that there would also be an investigation into financial irregularities at the center.