Leskovac: shop owner held over harassment of two girls
A suspect accused of two counts of sexual harassment of two underage girls has been ordered held for up to 48 hours, with questioning to follow within the legal deadline.
The Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Leskovac said a resident of a village near the city has been ordered held for up to 48 hours. He is suspected of committing two counts of sexual harassment, and the alleged victims are two underage girls.
What did the prosecutor’s office say?
The on-duty public prosecutor was informed of the incident orally and ordered the suspect’s detention. The statement also says he will be brought in for questioning:
“The on-duty public prosecutor was informed orally of the event, and as part of the actions within the remit of this prosecutor’s office, the detention of the suspect for 48 hours was ordered, because there are grounds for suspicion that he committed two criminal offenses of sexual harassment. The suspect will, within the legally prescribed deadline, be brought to the premises of the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Leskovac for questioning.”
The prosecutor’s office speaks only of detention. Some media outlets wrote in their headlines that he was remanded in custody, but the statement does not say that.
Who reported the case?
The father of one of the girls reported the case to the police. The suspect’s name, the girls’ ages and the location of the incident have not been made public. According to unofficial information from the media, the suspect owns a local shop in the village, and the girls come from his immediate surroundings. The prosecutor’s office has not confirmed this.
Jugmedia reported that the man is 50 years old. According to its information, he denies the allegations, claims he was set up and says the girls’ family owes him money for goods they took earlier. That claim is his defense and has not been verified.
What is still unknown?
The date and time of the arrest have not been published. Espreso reported on the complaint and the detention on October 8, and Telegraf and Jugmedia followed on October 9.
The Leskovac Police Department is handling the further investigation together with the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Leskovac. For now this is a suspicion. The suspect is accused of two counts of sexual harassment, and guilt has not been established.
