Serbia court drops case against ex-minister over train station disaster / Photo: OLIVER BUNIC - str/AFP
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Serbia court drops case against ex-minister over train station disaster
A Serbian court dropped charges Wednesday against a former construction minister over the Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse that killed 16 people, citing a lack of evidence.
The case is one of three probes linked to the tragedy in November 2024 that sparked a huge protest movement that has still not abated, with the disaster at the newly renovated station being seen as a symbol of entrenched corruption.
Goran Vesic, 56, who resigned days after the accident, was charged in September along with 12 others with a "serious crime against public safety" by the Novi Sad chief prosecutor.
However, the Novi Sad High Court said there was "insufficient evidence to support reasonable suspicion" that Vesic and five other defendants committed the offences set out in the indictment, while confirming charges against the remaining seven.
The prosecution said it would appeal, arguing that "the evidence collected clearly established reasonable suspicion against all defendants".
The court had previously returned the indictment once, requesting additional information, after which the prosecution supplemented the investigation.
Vesic remains under house arrest as a suspect in a separate probe by Serbia's corruption and organised crime prosecutor into the accident's financial aspects.
That probe includes 13 people, among them another former minister, Tomislav Momirovic.
The European Public Prosecutor's Office has opened a separate, ongoing investigation into possible misuse of EU funds for the rebuild.
The latest ruling is likely to fuel protesters' anger, as demonstrators demand accountability for the tragedy and early elections, which authorities reject, accusing them of attempting to overthrow the government.
J.Fletcher--NG
