Man Arrested Over Death Threats to Minister and Prosecutor
Police arrested a man from Zemun suspected of sending death threats via social media to the minister and public prosecutor Nenad Stefanovic. The arrest came a day after a warrant was issued.
- Police arrested a man from Zemun suspected of sending death threats to the minister and public prosecutor Nenad Stefanovic.
- The arrest came one day after a warrant was issued to locate and detain the author of the threats.
- The threats were sent by misusing social media, according to police.
- Proceedings are under way, with a criminal complaint filed to the competent prosecutor's office.
Police have arrested a man from Zemun suspected of sending death threats to the minister and to public prosecutor Nenad Stefanovic. The arrest was carried out in Belgrade, one day after a warrant was issued to locate and detain the author of the threats. In line with procedural rules, only the suspect’s initials are used in public.
According to police, the suspect sent the threats by misusing social media. Investigators identified, located, and arrested him within a short time. His guilt has not been established by a final court ruling.
How the arrest unfolded
The sequence of steps was compact. The competent prosecutor first issued a warrant to find and detain the person behind the threats. Police then, using the warrant data and the traces left online, reached the suspect.
The suspect, according to the investigation, has residence in Zemun and originates from Rozaje. He was arrested without incident. His detention was followed by questioning and the preparation of material for the competent prosecutor’s office.
The law treats threats against senior judicial officials seriously. Endangering the safety of holders of judicial office is not the same as an insult or sharp criticism. This is an offense prosecuted ex officio, regardless of whether the threat was made in person or through a screen.
The threats, as stated, contained words about murder. Such messages, when aimed at a specific person and a named official, are not treated as an outburst of anger online. They become the subject of criminal proceedings the moment authorities assess that the intent is serious.
What does the criminal complaint allege against the suspect?
A criminal complaint has been filed, or is being prepared, to the competent prosecutor’s office. The legal classification of the offense depends on the content of the messages and the prosecutor’s assessment. In cases of threats to holders of judicial office, offenses against freedoms and rights come into play, as do those protecting the exercise of public duty.
The digital trail is decisive here. Posts on social platforms leave metadata, timestamps, devices, and access points. That is precisely what allowed the swift identification. Anonymity online is, in practice, an ever thinner shield for anyone who writes threats.
The case fits a broader pattern. Threats against public officials, journalists, and prosecutors have grown more frequent in the public space in recent months. Institutions respond with faster action, because every unpunished threat lowers the bar for the next one.
The suspect remains available to the authorities pending further procedural decisions. The prosecutor’s office will decide on any motion for detention and on the final legal classification. Until a final verdict, he is presumed innocent.
This case shows how quickly institutions can react when the target of threats is a holder of judicial office. Do we expect the same pace when ordinary citizens are the ones under attack?
