Lawyer on Milić Case: 'Many Participated in Covering Up This Criminal Procedure'

Lawyer Borivoje Borović has strongly criticized the Public Prosecutor's Office's decision to dismiss a portion of the criminal complaint against Veselin Milić, the former head of the Police Administration for the City of Belgrade. The dismissed charge related to assisting a perpetrator after a crime in the "27" restaurant on Senjak, where Aleksandar Nešović Baja was murdered.

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it is evident that many people participated in the cover-up of this criminal procedure, much time was given to defense witnesses, much time was given to the accused.

Borović stated that it is evident "many people participated in the cover-up of this criminal procedure." He suggested that ample time was given to defense witnesses and the accused. Regarding the remaining charge, failure to report a crime and its perpetrator, Borović anticipates Milić will likely receive a suspended sentence, despite the potential for up to five years imprisonment.

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in Serbia, investigations move left and right, and never go in the direction they should according to the law.

Reflecting on the broader context, Borović commented that investigations in Serbia are often swayed by political currents rather than following legal procedures. He pointed out that initial reports suggested Milić might have lured the victim, which, in his legal opinion, could constitute complicity or co-perpetration if Milić acted with direct intent, knowing it was a criminal act. Even if considered aiding and abetting, Borović argued, such actions could lead to responsibility for aggravated murder, especially if Milić had prior knowledge, facilitated the meeting, or promised to help conceal the crime.

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the first time I heard the order for the investigation, that it was mentioned that Milić lured the victim in this criminal case, in my opinion, that expert comment was that it was co-perpetration, it is a complicity that can be, or in co-perpetration, if Milić acted with direct intent, knowing that it was a criminal act, then that luring can be treated as one of the actions of that co-perpetration.

Borović emphasized that any conscientious prosecutor should have broadened the indictment with a wider legal qualification, allowing for a lesser charge to be applied later if circumstances warranted. He criticized public officials, including politicians and ministers, for commenting on ongoing criminal proceedings, calling it an obstruction of justice. Borović specifically cited the public display of a barrel used to dispose of Nešović's body as evidence contamination, noting that such actions would be serious offenses in Anglo-Saxon law, potentially invalidating evidence in court. He concluded that the judiciary and prosecution are severely damaged, with investigations being directed from political circles.

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every conscientious higher prosecutor should have expanded that indictment to be a broader legal qualification, and then, if those circumstances are exhausted, it is very easy to impose a milder criminal offense.