Police officer MT allegedly injured a fellow citizen from Mojkovac after an incident in front of a local disco on May 2nd, around two o'clock after midnight.
That night, several younger men clashed with Mojkovac police officers, and according to information from "Vijesti", he was not on duty that night, but rather partying in the city, when he interfered with the official intervention of his colleagues.
Previously, according to the same information, he caused trouble in another cafe, hitting one of the guests and then insulting the owner and his wife.
The Police Directorate responded to "Vijesti" that they were reported that night that there had been a disturbance of public order in front of a bar, namely a fight between several people, and that they had sent police officers who were on duty at the time to the scene.
"It was then determined that a physical conflict occurred in front of the aforementioned catering facility, in which several people participated, one of whom used a spray with an irritating effect. Several people were injured and all of them received medical attention. During the establishment of public order and peace, the police officers who were sent to the scene were attacked and, by order of the acting prosecutor who was informed of the entire incident, three people were deprived of their liberty for the criminal offense of assault on an official in the performance of official duty," the UP responded.
They also claim that when collecting information from the three Mojkovci residents and witnesses to the event, no one mentioned their colleague.
"They did not mention police officer MT in their statements as a participant in the previous physical conflict, and thus, neither the prosecutor nor the police officers had any knowledge of whether he participated in this incident. Thus, the prosecutor was familiar with the case files and qualified the above-mentioned criminal offense with which they are charged. LM (23) M. R. (21), as well as a member of the Army of Montenegro AM (25),” the UP explains.
According to information from "Vijesti", due to an incident involving several citizens and several police officers, brothers AM and LM, and MR, were deprived of their liberty and charged with assaulting an official in the performance of their official duties.
They also state that, acting on the order of the Basic Court in Bijelo Polje, the following day they seized video material from surveillance cameras, which was delivered to the prosecutor in charge.
"A review of the seized footage of the disputed event identified police officer MT as one of the participants in the physical conflict in front of the aforementioned catering facility, who had previously stayed at the catering facility as a guest and was on vacation, as well as other persons who were not mentioned in the previously given statements by the above suspects and eyewitnesses to the event," they told "Vijesti" in response to questions sent on May 3.
In their responses, which they announced were due on May 4th, they wrote that yesterday,
in the premises of the Public Prosecutor's Office in Bijelo Polje, a consultation was held with the acting state prosecutor:
"Who gave instructions for further action by police officers of the Mojkovac Security Department in relation to the seized video material. Also, the acting prosecutor stated that based on the facts and circumstances established so far, there are no elements of a criminal offense in the actions of police officer MT. However, he ordered that after identifying all the actors in the event, information be collected from all of them in order to fully clarify the situation, and that he would then carry out a legal qualification of the offense in relation to all persons."
They pointed out that after the investigation is conducted and the facts are established and the prosecutor's statement is received, the police officer will be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Internal Affairs.
"And in the event that the provisions of Article 176 of the aforementioned Law are fulfilled, a decision shall be made in accordance with the same."
This article of the Law allows for the possible suspension of a police officer from Mojkovac.
The UP added that the acting prosecutor informed the police officers that during the interrogation, one of the suspects stated that he had been beaten by another police officer.
News reports that it is a police officer from PB.
"Regarding these allegations, a case has been opened at the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Bijelo Polje and the Police Internal Control Department has been informed."
"Therefore, police officers from the Mojkovac Security Department, in cooperation with the acting prosecutor and on his orders, are taking measures and actions to determine all circumstances and facts in relation to the aforementioned event, in order to fully shed light on it and prosecute other participants," said the security institution.
"The boys were beaten, then arrested and charged with attacking police officers, although they were also beaten by police officers and several former handball players who do not work in the police, as well as an inspector from Bijelo Polje. During the conflict, AM was knocked to the asphalt, when MT ran up to him and started kicking him. The premises' surveillance cameras recorded everything, and unless they destroy the footage, it will be clear who is to blame," one of the eyewitnesses told "Vijesti".
Responding to questions about why only three Mojkovci residents were arrested, and not the police officers who allegedly brutally beat them, the UP explained that, on the orders of the acting prosecutor who reviewed the case files after the event itself that same evening, "the three aforementioned individuals were criminally prosecuted."
"In the further course of the proceedings, after issuing an order from the Basic Court in Bijelo Polje, video material from surveillance cameras was seized and submitted to the prosecutor for further action, and after reviewing this material, the same issued orders to police officers for further action in the case, after which they will declare the legal qualification or responsibility of other persons in the recording, who will be prosecuted in accordance with the opinion and order of the prosecutor. We assure you that after any responsibility is determined, the strictest measure will be applied against the police officer because performing police service implies ethics and legality in acting at all times, regardless of whether the police officer is on duty or not. When it comes to other persons, namely the police officer, they have not been prosecuted because the prosecutor has not qualified the criminal offense in relation to them until now," the Police explained.
They confirmed the information from "Vijesti" that the commander of the Mojkovac police station for public order and peace had access to the footage of the event.
They will investigate whether he violated the code.
The Police Directorate claims that the Internal Control Department will determine whether MT violated the code by not reacting in accordance with his authority.
"Pursuant to Article 43 of the Law on Internal Affairs, a police officer applies police powers based on his own assessment of the fulfillment of the legally prescribed conditions for application, while pursuant to Article 22, a police officer, in cases where possible, outside of working hours, provides assistance to any person in danger, prevents the commission of criminal offenses and actions that may disrupt public order or endanger the safety of persons and property, depending on the assessment and degree of threat to the safety of persons and property, which police officer MT did not do," they explained.
They add that, in this regard, the case files will be sent to the Police Internal Control Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs:
"For the purpose of conducting internal control procedures, as well as to the Ethics Committee to determine whether the police officer's actions violated the code of police ethics. If the police officer's responsibility is determined, in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Internal Affairs, appropriate procedures will be initiated to determine disciplinary responsibility and possible suspension for serious breach of official duty."
Bonus video:
