An indictment was filed for roof collapse; Chief Public Prosecutor: "Their oversights contributed to tragedy"

The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade filed an indictment against three defendants for failings in the technical supervision of works performed at the Railway Station in Novi Sad, which contributed to the fall of the canopy, which killed 15 people.

In relation to two members of the Commission for Technical Supervision of Works, the investigation was suspended due to lack of evidence, said the Chief Prosecutor of the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade, Nenad Stefanović.

The indictment was brought for the commission of corrupt criminal acts. The defendants are Slobodanka K., Milutin S. and Biljana K.

The Chief Public Prosecutor of the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade, Nenad Stefanović, addressed the public after the indictment was filed in connection with the oversights that led to the fall of the canopy in Novi Sad.

"Indictments have been brought against Slobodanka K., the investment development manager of the Belgrade-based Infrastructure Railway of Serbia joint-stock company, as well as the chairman of the commission for the technical inspection of the railway station in Novi Sad, Milutin S., and a member of that commission, Biljana K. They are accused of criminal acts with corrupt elements, which resulted in the fall of the canopy," said Stefanović.

"Their oversights contributed to the tragedy"

Stefanović specified what the indictments refer to:

"We point to the well-founded suspicion that their failures contributed to this tragedy. If they had acted conscientiously, performed the duty of extraordinary inspection and control of the fulfillment of the conditions during the trial work, they could have visually observed signs of breakage and increased deflection of the canopy in the days before it collapsed."

Slobodanka K. faces an indictment for abuse of official position and a serious crime against general security, while Milutin S. and Biljana K. are charged with unscrupulous work in the service and a serious crime against general security from the Criminal Code.

The investigation against the members of the commission was suspended

The prosecutor also stated that the investigation was suspended against the members of the commission, Jelena V. and Marija N.J., due to the lack of evidence that they committed any criminal offense prosecuted ex officio.

"During the investigation, from the testimony of the accused witnesses and the reviewed written documentation published on the website of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, it was established that Jelena V. and Marija N.J. were misled by the accused members of the commission about the technical inspection, which excludes the illegality of their actions," explained Stefanović.

Stefanović further emphasized the corrupt element in this case, which is reflected in the failure to perform the duty of supervision and criminal acts such as abuse of official position and unscrupulous work in the service, which are in a cause-and-effect relationship with a serious offense against general security.

Pre-investigation procedure on project financing

The higher public prosecutor's office in Novi Sad also filed an indictment against other defendants for a serious crime against general security in the area of ​​the so-called general crime. The Public Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime is conducting a preliminary investigation in connection with the financing of the railway station renovation project in Novi Sad, initiated by the Criminal Police Directorate.

"The pre-investigation procedure started at the initiative of the Criminal Police Directorate," added Stefanović.

"The Special Department for Suppression of Corruption of the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade issued a request to collect the necessary information regarding the financing of this project, given that certain companies have their headquarters in the territory of the city of Belgrade. After that, the Special Department for Suppression of Corruption in Novi Sad began its proceedings".

Although today's indictments of the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade are not related to the financing of the project, Stefanović pointed out that the details of the indictment will soon be published on the prosecution's website, together with the evidence collected by the prosecution.

Stefanović also mentioned the non-final decision on substitution in this case, which was made by the Supreme Public Prosecutor, and which the Special Department for Combating Corruption of the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade lodged an objection with the Commission of the High Council of Prosecutors.

"I believe that the prosecutor's office, which conducted the investigation and filed the indictment, should represent the same indictment before the competent court due to the efficiency of the procedure," said Stefanović.

"It is not clear why the Public Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime, which is only in the pre-investigation phase in connection with the financing of the project, would continue to represent this indictment. Bearing in mind the tragedy of November 1, 2024, in Novi Sad and the social circumstances that followed, the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade gave its best in responding effectively to suspected criminal acts and prosecuting those responsible in the part related to our jurisdiction," concluded Stefanović.