Senjak: restaurant waiter held 30 days, silent in questioning
The Belgrade Higher Court ordered up to 30 days' detention for Petar U. (20), a waiter at the restaurant where the offense was committed, who exercised his right to silence during questioning.
- The Belgrade Higher Court ordered up to 30 days' detention for Petar U. (20), a waiter at a Senjak restaurant.
- The suspect faces charges of failure to report a criminal offense and assistance to the offender after the offense.
- During questioning at the prosecutor's office, the suspect exercised his right to silence.
- The case is part of a broader investigation against 11 suspects in the aggravated murder of A. N.
A pretrial judge at the Belgrade Higher Court ordered up to 30 days’ detention for Petar U. (20), employed as a waiter at the Senjak restaurant where an offense was committed on May 12. The case is a continuation of the Belgrade Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office investigation that covers 11 suspects.
According to the prosecutor’s release number 1137 issued on May 26, during questioning at the prosecutor’s office the suspect exercised his right to silence. After questioning, the prosecutor’s office moved for detention, which the court approved.
What prosecutors allege
The suspect faces two criminal charges. According to the investigation, as an employee at the restaurant he was present at the time of the May 12 events, but in his report failed to provide information necessary for the timely uncovering of the offense and its perpetrators.
The criminal charges against the suspect include:
- failure to report a criminal offense and offender under Article 332 of the Criminal Code
- assistance to the offender after the commission of a criminal offense under Article 333 of the Criminal Code
- giving false information in an evidentiary action
In its detention motion, the prosecutor’s office cited two sets of reasons: the possibility of influencing witnesses and the risk of repeated offending within a short period.
Legal classification
The offense of failure to report a criminal offense and offender under Article 332 of the Criminal Code is punishable by a fine or up to 3 years in prison. The aggravated form, when the underlying offense carries a sentence exceeding 10 years, is punishable by 3 months to 5 years.
The offense of assistance to the offender after the commission of a criminal offense under Article 333 of the Criminal Code, when assistance is provided to an offender of a criminal offense punishable by more than 10 years’ imprisonment, is punishable by 1 to 8 years in prison.
According to informal accounts from sources close to the investigation, the suspect has so far refused to answer questions about who was at the restaurant during the critical hours.
What comes next in the probe
Under standard procedure, after the initial 30-day period expires, the pretrial judge may extend detention for up to a further 60 days. The decision depends on the pace of evidentiary actions.
The Belgrade Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office said the next steps in the investigation include:
- forensic examination of the restaurant’s CCTV footage
- questioning of remaining witnesses who were at the venue that day
- analysis of the suspects’ phone communications
- DNA forensic examination of clothing and items at the restaurant
The suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a final court decision.
Will the court extend detention beyond the initial 30-day term?
