Regarding public interest in the proceedings of the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad in the case established following the tragic event of November 1, 2024, when 16 people lost their lives and one was seriously injured due to the collapse of the Novi Sad Railway Station canopy, the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad issued a statement reminding the public that on September 12 of this year it concluded the investigation procedure, after which, they add, on September 16, in accordance with the law, it filed an Indictment against 13 defendants. The indictment was filed, they state, due to a justified suspicion that they committed criminal acts which are legally qualified as Serious Acts Against Public Safety.
The filed Indictment covers thirteen defendants: G.V. former Minister in the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, J.T. former acting General Director of “Infrastructure of Serbian Railways” a.d., A.D. former acting Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, N.Š. former General Director of “Infrastructure of Serbian Railways” a.d., S.N. responsible designer of the civil engineering structure, M.J. chief designer of the conceptual design, Lj.M.M. chief designer of the project for the building permit, M.S. rapporteur of the Republican Revision Commission, J.S.M. person responsible for the technical control of the project for the building permit, Z.S.M. and D.J. persons responsible for the execution of construction works, M.G. and D.T. persons responsible for professional supervision over the execution of works, namely:
-due to criminal acts which enabled the use of a public facility – the station building of the Novi Sad Railway Station, wing B, although construction works were ongoing and for which the facility’s occupancy permit was not issued, -due to a criminal act in connection with the previous lack of maintenance of the station building structure, -due to criminal acts during the design and execution phases of work during the renovation of the Novi Sad Railway Station building.
“The allegations of the Indictment are fully supported by the collected evidence, which confirms the justified suspicion that all defendants committed the criminal acts they are charged with and which indicate the criminal responsibility of the defendants,” the statement reads, adding:
“The Indictment was delivered on the same day (September 16, 2025) with the complete investigation files to the Higher Court in Novi Sad so that the council of that court could make a decision on confirming the Indictment, so the entire case has been under the jurisdiction of the Higher Court in Novi Sad since that day.
We also remind the public that by submitting the Indictment, the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office proposed ordering detention for all defendants due to the still high level of public unrest that may jeopardize the smooth and just conduct of the criminal proceedings. The proposal for ordering detention was rejected, and the public prosecutor’s appeal was subsequently rejected, so all defendants were issued a measure prohibiting them from leaving their apartment.
The Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad still expects that the Indictment will enter into legal force for all defendants as soon as possible, which would enable a public trial for all accused persons. The Prosecutor’s Office reiterates its position on the necessity of a public trial, where, in the presence of the public at the main hearing, evidence collected by the public prosecutor’s office during the investigation, as well as defense evidence, would be presented, with the aim of establishing the criminal responsibility of the defendants.”
MORE TOPICS:
Source: Euronews; Photo: TANJUG / NENAD MIHAJLOVIĆ