Detention Extended for Suspects in Novi Sad Canopy Collapse

(Patria) - The Higher Court in Novi Sad today extended the detention of suspects in the collapse of a canopy at the railway station in that city, which killed 15 people and seriously injured two.

As announced, for suspect N.Š., charged with a criminal offense against public safety in connection with the criminal offense of causing general danger due to public disturbance, detention was extended by up to 30 days.

For suspects S.N, M.J, Lj.M.M, M.S, J.S.M, Z.S.M, D.J, M.G. and D.T., charged with a criminal offense against public safety in connection with the criminal offense of improper and incorrect execution of construction works, detention was extended by up to 30 days.

The Higher Court made this decision due to the existence of special circumstances indicating that they could repeat the criminal offense of which they are reasonably suspected within a short period of time and due to public disturbance.

In the accident at the railway station, where a concrete canopy collapsed on November 1, 15 people lost their lives, while two were seriously injured.

The station in Novi Sad was ceremonially opened in July after a three-year reconstruction, and a few months later the concrete canopy collapsed.

The contractor for the station works was a consortium of Chinese companies, while six companies from Serbia, Hungary and France were engaged for expert supervision.

Thirteen people were arrested on suspicion of being responsible for the canopy collapse.

Detention was lifted after a few days for the arrested Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Goran Vesić. Vesić had previously resigned from that position but did not accept responsibility for the accident.

Among the public officials arrested in connection with this case, besides Vesić, are his cabinet member in charge of railways, Anita Dimoski, the former director of "Infrastructure of Railways of Serbia", Jelena Tanasković, and her predecessor at the head of that public company, Nebojša Šurlan.