Head of Serbia's Criminal Police Arrested over Conduct in Senjak Murder Inquiry

The head of Serbia's Criminal Police Directorate, Marko Kričak, was detained this morning on an order from the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade on suspicion of abusing his official position, authorities said. Boško Sekulović, head of the Service for Combating Crime, was arrested in the same operation.

Arrests tied to the "Senjak" murder investigation

Prosecutors link the detentions to alleged improper conduct in the investigation into the killing of Aleksandar Nešović, known as Baja, on 12 May this year at the "27" restaurant in the Senjak neighbourhood of Belgrade. Saša Vuković is charged with the killing, and others are being investigated for aiding in covering up the crime and removing traces.

Kričak led the police operation after the murder. Initial police filings also included Veselin Milić, the then-head of Belgrade police and an assistant police director, who was arrested on 15 May and spent more than 50 days in custody.

Lawyers for Milić filed a criminal complaint against Kričak and Sekulović on 30 July, alleging that the two failed to hand over to the prosecution evidence in their possession which would have shown the claims in the police report against Milić were incorrect. The lawyers said that, as a result, their client was exposed to an unfounded criminal procedure, pretrial detention and public discreditation. Some media reports have also raised allegations of fabricated evidence and pressure on witnesses and suspects to align their testimony with a prearranged version of events.

While previous public accusations against Kričak for violence during the 2025 protests drew widespread attention, available information does not indicate that today's arrests were made in direct connection with those complaints.

During the 2025 protests Kričak, who previously led a unit responsible for protecting specified persons and buildings, was publicly accused by student Nikolina Sinđelić of being beaten and threatened with rape after she was detained on the night between 13 and 14 August 2025; she later filed a criminal complaint. The then-minister of interior affairs, Ivica Dačić, publicly dismissed her claims, and Kričak filed a lawsuit against the student for injury to her honour.

The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade said on 30 October that it is not handling the protesters' case and that the matter falls under the jurisdiction of a basic public prosecutor's office. Prosecutors are expected to issue a statement detailing the specific acts being charged and the next procedural steps.

Photo: MUP Srbija