Prosecution: 13 people have been indicted in Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse case

Photo: Antonio Ahel / ATA Images / Profimedia

Because of the public's interest in the actions of the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Novi Sad in the case regarding the tragic event that happened on November 1, 2024, when 16 people lost their lives and one person was seriously injured as a result of Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse, the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Novi Sad is reminding the public that on September 12 of this year, it concluded the investigative process.

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After that, on September 16, in line with the law, the prosecution filed an indictment against 13 persons on reasonable suspicion that they committed criminal acts that are legally qualified as serious acts against general security, from Article 288 paragraph 2 of the Criminal Code.

The indicted persons are: G.V., former minister in the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, J.T., former acting general director of the Serbian Railway Infrastructure a.d. company, A.D., former acting assistant minister in the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, N.S., former general director of Serbian Railway Infrastructure a.d., S.N. responsible designer of the building structure, M.J. chief designer of the conceptual project, LJ.M.M., chief designer of the project for the building permit, M.S., reporter of the Republic Revision Commission, J.S.M., the person responsible for 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 of the execution of the works.

In the indictment, 13 persons are charged with criminal offenses that enabled the use of a public facility - the building of the Novi Sad Railway Station, wing B, even though construction work was ongoing, for which the facility was not issued a permit; for a criminal offense related to previous non-maintenance of the structure of the station building, and for criminal offenses during the design and execution phase of the works during the renovation of the building of the Novi Sad Railway Station.

The allegations in the indictment are fully supported by the collected evidence, which confirm justified suspicion that all the accused have committed the criminal acts they have been charged with, and which indicate criminal responsibility of those indicted, the Prosecurion said.

The indictment was delivered to the Higher Court in Novi Sad on the same day (September 16), along with a complete set of investigation files, so that the panel of that court could make a decision to confirm the indictment, putting the case under the jurisdiction of the Higher Court in Novi Sad.

The prosecution also said that it is reminding the public "that with the filing of the indictment, the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office proposed detention for all the accused due to the continued large scale disturbance of the public, which may threaten the smooth and fair conduct of the criminal proceedings."

That proposal has been rejected, and then the Prosecution's appeal was also rejected, so all those indicted have been ordered to stay under house arrest.

The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Novi Sad still expects that the indictment will enter into legal force as soon as possible, which would enable a public trial.

The Prosecution once again expresses its position about the necessity of a public trial, when the evidence collected by the Prosecution during the investigation, as well as the evidence by the defense, would be presented at the main trial, in order to determine whether those indicted are criminally responsible.

(Telegraf.rs)