Hooligan case judge could be sacked

The Justice Ministry has launched procedures to dismiss Judge Jelena Milinovic before the High Judicial Council, said reports. Belgrade daily Blic writes today that the judge acquitted football fans who made death threats against B92 TV's Brankica Stankovic during a basketball in Belgrade. Hooligan case judge could be sacked The judge also acquitted a taxi driver who sexually assaulted a 19-year-old girl, saying that “the acts he is accused of are not criminal acts". Milinovic has become the first judicial office holder whose dismissal was requested after their reappointment, said the article. However, the newspaper noted, "far from the public eye", the top judicial echelons are not in agreement over the possible sacking of the judge. Justice Ministry State Secretary Slobodan Homen told the daily that the ministry was not deviating from making the penal policy stricter, and that “there were negative examples which are not helping”. “The penal policy has been made stricter for criminal acts that have to do with drug trafficking, as well as criminal acts of rape, sexual assault, primarily against underage persons. The Criminal Procedure Code has been changed so judges are prohibited to pass prison sentences below the legal minimum," Homen explained. The state secretary, however, pointed out that he "did not intend to comment on judicial decisions which are not in effect", and repeated that the prosecution has already filed its appeal in the taxi driver case ruling. “I can say that the act which the taxi driver was accused of, with its characteristics and description, goes precisely into the group of the most serious criminal acts. Such behavior of any citizen, if there is valid evidence, must be strongly sanctioned,” he added. Homen did not wish to comment on the work of Judge Milinovic. “The Justice Ministry said everything it had to say about the work of Judge Milinovic by officially launching the initiative for her dismissal before the High Judicial Council," this official said, and explained that it came after the manner in which the case against the hooligans was handled. Homen added that if it were to be proved that the taxi driver case was also mishandled, the ministry's initiative with the council would gain "another strong argument".

Hooligan case judge could be sacked

The judge also acquitted a taxi driver who sexually assaulted a 19-year-old girl, saying that “the acts he is accused of are not criminal acts".

Milinović has become the first judicial office holder whose dismissal was requested after their reappointment, said the article.

However, the newspaper noted, "far from the public eye", the top judicial echelons are not in agreement over the possible sacking of the judge.

Justice Ministry State Secretary Slobodan Homen told the daily that the ministry was not deviating from making the penal policy stricter, and that “there were negative examples which are not helping”.

“The penal policy has been made stricter for criminal acts that have to do with drug trafficking, as well as criminal acts of rape, sexual assault, primarily against underage persons. The Criminal Procedure Code has been changed so judges are prohibited to pass prison sentences below the legal minimum," Homen explained.

The state secretary, however, pointed out that he "did not intend to comment on judicial decisions which are not in effect", and repeated that the prosecution has already filed its appeal in the taxi driver case ruling.

“I can say that the act which the taxi driver was accused of, with its characteristics and description, goes precisely into the group of the most serious criminal acts. Such behavior of any citizen, if there is valid evidence, must be strongly sanctioned,” he added.

Homen did not wish to comment on the work of Judge Milinović.

“The Justice Ministry said everything it had to say about the work of Judge Milinović by officially launching the initiative for her dismissal before the High Judicial Council," this official said, and explained that it came after the manner in which the case against the hooligans was handled.

Homen added that if it were to be proved that the taxi driver case was also mishandled, the ministry's initiative with the council would gain "another strong argument".