Detention ordered for nine Interior Ministry Officers suspected of abuse

Detention was ordered for V.L., J.O., B.J., D.V., N.D., N.F., Z.V., I.Ž. and M.V. The measure was requested to prevent them from influencing witnesses and because the alleged commission of the criminal offence had caused public concern, the court said in a statement.

The suspects had previously been questioned by the prosecution, while suspect M.K. is also due to be questioned at a later date, the First Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade announced earlier.

Under the order launching the investigation, the suspects are charged with the criminal offence of abuse and torture.

They are suspected of having committed the offences during the night between 14 and 15 August last year, between 10:30 p.m. and 1:00 a.m., in the garage of the Serbian Government building on Nemanjina Street.

Acting jointly with the principal suspect, M.K., who is currently in custody under an order issued by the Higher Court in Belgrade, the nine suspects, in their capacity as public officials serving in the Ministry of Interior's Unit for the Protection of Certain Persons and Facilities, allegedly used force and threats to inflict severe pain and suffering on the victims, identified as N.S., S.Z., D.C., Dj.M., R.N., Dj.K., N.M., M.M., I.P. and B.D.

According to the allegations, their aim was to obtain information from the victims, intimidate them and punish them unlawfully.