Police Union Denies Sarajevo Canton MUP: Pedestrian Did Not Get Injured in Krečane, But an Officer on Duty, Why Are You Hiding the Truth?

(Patria) - For the proper informing of the public and the satisfaction of Truth, Justice, and Fairness, the Union of Police Officers, Civil Servants, and Employees of Sarajevo Canton, hereby issues a denial of the statement from the Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The statement from the Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Internal Affairs in its entirety, published on the official portal of the Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Internal Affairs and publicly available on 12.07.2025 at 18:00:

"On 10.07.2025 at 23:55 in Krečane, Stari Grad municipality area, a traffic accident occurred. During this, D.B., born in 1982, residing in Sarajevo, was hit and knocked to the road by a motor vehicle 'Jeep Wrangler', which was towing a trailer 'Dodex', driven by R.H., born in 1952, residing in Sarajevo. In this traffic accident, D.B. sustained severe bodily injuries, and medical assistance was provided by a team from the Sarajevo Canton Emergency Medical Service, and he was admitted for further treatment at the Clinic for Orthopedics and Traumatology. The duty prosecutor of the Sarajevo Canton Prosecutor's Office was informed, and the investigation was carried out by members of the Police Administration of the Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Internal Affairs and authorized court experts in traffic and mechanical engineering. Traffic on the M-5 highway, from the intersection with Put Mladih Muslimana street to the intersection with Mošćanica street, was completely blocked until 04:10 the following day."

The Union's reaction in its entirety:

"Indeed, it is true that a traffic accident occurred at the mentioned location on the critical day and time, but it is not true that a pedestrian sustained severe bodily injuries in it. A police officer sustained severe bodily injuries in the form of multiple fractures to his body while performing regular duties and tasks.

The Union does not delve into the traffic accident itself or how it occurred. For that, there are competent judicial bodies that should have their say. However, what is painful is that facts are being deliberately distorted, leading the public to a distorted conclusion when they read the aforementioned statement, questioning what a pedestrian was doing in Krečane, what he was doing up on the road, that it was his own fault, etc. But the public does not know that this very police officer, and also a member of the Union of Police Officers, Civil Servants, and Employees of Sarajevo Canton, was, by order of his immediate superior, preventively performing duties and tasks within the scope of police service related to the security of the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide.

The public does not know that this pedestrian, who was in a police uniform with clearly visible police and Sarajevo Canton insignia at the critical time, is a parent and a husband. The public does not know that the family of the injured police officer was not contacted by any of the commanding police officers of the Stari Grad Police Department, whose employee he is, regarding the mentioned traffic accident until 2:00 PM the following day, except by himself while in a semi-conscious state. The public does not know many things that it should know. Why is the approach of the police authority to the public regarding the mentioned traffic accident as it is. The Union also wonders?

The Union, led by President Viktor Ćatić, is dedicated to its members in all its existence, and is also at the service of their families in need. We will not allow half-truths to spread in order to conceal the whole Truth for reasons known only to 'them'.

We also ask ourselves, how much is the life of a police officer and his family worth, who took an oath to serve and protect the constitutional order, citizens, and their personal property? Is it worth exchanging the life and health of a police officer for the marketplace and petty gain. It is not, because even the marketplace has its code of honor, and we know very well that the marketplace does not resort to 'low blows'.

We wish our colleague a speedy recovery, and from everyone in the chain of command in the Stari Grad Police Department and the Police Administration, we expect them to correct the injustice done to the police officer, while we appeal to the judicial institutions to process the mentioned event promptly and in accordance with the Law for the future and survival of a just legal system."