Simic: Suspension of police officers is the first step, accountability before the courts is necessary

Serb List Presidency member Igor Simic, commenting on the Kosovo Police Inspectorate's recommendation to suspend two Kosovo Police officers over the mistreatment of Nenad Raskovic, said that suspension was only the first step and that the perpetrators must be held accountable before the courts.

"Suspension is not enough; it is only the first step. Those responsible must answer before the courts because this involves torture, psychological and physical abuse, the infliction of serious bodily injuries, coercion of a statement..." Simic wrote on Instagram.

He added that those who, as he put it, had attempted to cover up the crime with lies should also be held accountable.

"We were telling the truth when we informed the public about the brutal torture of Nenad Raskovic," Simic said.

The Kosovo Police Inspectorate recommended that the Kosovo Police suspend two officers from the Regional Police Directorate in North Mitrovica on suspicion of the criminal offense of "mistreatment in the exercise of official duties or public authority," in connection with the incident in which Nenad Raskovic, a Serb from the village of Dren, sustained serious injuries.

Nenad Raskovic was seriously injured on August 11 after, according to his account, he was beaten by Kosovo Police officers.

Raskovic was admitted to the Clinical Hospital Center "Kosovska Mitrovica," but due to the severity of his injuries, he was transferred to the Clinical Center of Serbia in Belgrade for further treatment.