Banjaluka journalist after police questioning: They told me 'the time has come to finally put an end to you'

(Patria) - Nikola Morača, a journalist for EuroBlic and Srpskainfo.com, exclusively revealed the latest details to N1 after initially being questioned and then becoming a suspect, solely because, as he says, he refused to reveal his sources.

Morača tells N1 that he stands by his statement that he became a suspect because he refused to reveal his source, which he is not obligated to do as a journalist.

He also explained to N1 how it all started.

"It started the night before last when criminal investigators were looking for me everywhere except where I live," said Morača, explaining that the reason was a series of articles about the rape of a girl, and revealed how everything proceeded.

"Accompanied by my lawyer, I went to the fourth floor where the conversation began as usual: 'You journalists are good, you have good stories, you help us, but there are stories that go beyond your understanding of journalism.' All the time they mentioned that text about the rape and arrest, not only mentioning my text but also those of other colleagues. I told them that at no point in any text did I reveal the victim's identity. We revealed the suspect's initials by relaying the statement from the Banja Luka prosecutor's office. My text contains certain details, and their point is for the public. So, we had the arrest of the suspect for rape, and the prosecutor's office did not request his detention," explained Morača.

He adds that the public should be alarmed that a person suspected of rape is walking freely around the city and that this should be known. After, as Morača said, he refused to reveal his source, his phone was confiscated, which he doesn't understand why it happened, and he became a suspect.

He did not want to comment on the statement from the competent authorities that he jeopardized the investigation by revealing information from it, but only said:

"I am familiar with their game," said Morača.

The sentence that struck him the most was what they told him:

"The time has come to finally put an end to you," but it is not entirely clear to Morača, as he told N1, who they meant – whether him personally or the entire journalistic community.

Morača is supported by his legal team and the editorial office of the media outlet where he works.

"The lawyer was shocked, and he is a former judge," stated Morača.

In the end, Morača thanked everyone because many journalists and the media community stood by him, including the Banja Luka Journalists' Club, the Umbrella Investigative Journalists Association, and individual journalists in independent media outlets.

Morača states that although he has had problems with the police before due to his work, he will never give up on professional work and performing his job.