The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) announced last night, after videos appeared on social networks of policemen using force during the arrest of a person on the highway, that it was a man who was fleeing from the police while transporting irregular migrants and who resisted arrest.
“Members of the MUP who today acted in connection with the stopping of a vehicle on the Belgrade-Niš highway, near the Vrčin toll ramp, by order of the competent superiors, have been temporarily removed from work,” the statement added.
Due to the suspicion of exceeding authority in the use of means of coercion, the MUP states that it has initiated an internal control procedure and made a decision on the temporary removal (suspension) of three police officers until the procedure is completed.
“The competent prosecutor’s office will be informed of all the facts. The MUP emphasizes that, regardless of the circumstances, it will act consistently in all cases of possible exceeding of authority, in order to preserve the trust of citizens and ensure legal and professional conduct of all police members,” the statement reads.
The MUP stated that the driver was moving from the direction of Niš towards Belgrade, and that he had not previously stopped even on the orders of police officers from Jagodina, Pirot, and Niš, thereby endangering traffic safety – overtaking on the shoulder and avoiding control.
At the Vrčin toll ramp, the driver broke through the lowered toll ramp, and he was stopped by a blockade made immediately after the toll ramp. On that occasion, according to the MUP, the driver N.M. (41) was disgruntled, resisted and offered active resistance to the police officers where they had to prevent him from starting the vehicle and leaving with the irregular migrants he was transporting.
“N.M. continued with active resistance, kicking the policemen, whereby the police officers used means of coercion – physical force and overpowered him,” the statement added.
Several foreign nationals were found in his vehicle, who are suspected of having entered Serbia illegally.
The MUP also states that, according to the tests performed, the driver was positive for the presence of narcotics, and it was also determined that he was driving without a driver’s license and that he did not act according to the signal of an authorized official.
He was examined on the spot by the Emergency Medical Service.
He was detained for up to 48 hours on suspicion of having committed the criminal offense of illegal crossing of the state border and human smuggling and will be brought to the competent prosecutor’s office with a criminal complaint.
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Source: Nova.rs, Photo: Printscreen Instagram @ekostaze