Aleksandar Olenik, a prominent defense attorney and Vice President of the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina (LSV), launched a scathing critique against the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office (VJT) in Belgrade regarding its erratic handling of the infamous “Senjak Case.”
Olenik’s remarks came shortly after the Belgrade Higher Court extended the detention of ousted Belgrade Police Chief Veselin Milić by an additional 30 days. Milić was arrested alongside 10 other individuals following the May 12 murder of Aleksandar Nešović (known as “Baja”) at the “27” restaurant in the upscale Senjak neighborhood.
1. The Flurry of Conflicting Official Press Releases
Olenik heavily criticized the VJT’s unprecedented public communications strategy, noting that prosecutors issued nearly ten official statements in less than a month, each textually and factually contradicting the previous ones.
The Institutional PR Flip-Flop on Veselin Milić
[ MAY 16 INITIAL CHARGES ] ──► CORE COMPLICITY / LURING
• VJT claims phone records prove Chief Milić personally placed two calls to the victim,
luring him to the Senjak restaurant and instructing him to arrive without bodyguards.
[ JUNE 3 RETRACTION ] ──► ABSENCE & DISMISSAL
• VJT drops charges against Milić's personal security detail for lack of evidence.
Claims video footage proves Milić had already left before the shooting occurred.
[ JUNE 12 REVISED CASE ] ──► "TECHNICAL INCERTAINTY"
• VJT walks back the phone logs entirely. States they can no longer verify if Milić
called from his personal phone or another number, calling their initial charge "incorrect."
Olenik emphasized that analyzing call logs via cell tower base stations (bazne stanice) is a five-minute technical routine for cellular providers like Telekom. The sudden legal uncertainty suggests an intentional effort to confuse journalists, lawyers, and judges alike.
2. The Shift in Legal Classification: From Co-Perpetrator to Passive Observer
The shifting narrative has fundamentally changed the severity of the criminal charges brought against the former capital police chief.
The Downgrading of Milić's Criminal Liability
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ [ INITIAL LEGAL HAZARD: CO-PERPETRATION ] │
│ • CHARGE: Joint commission of Aggravated Murder (Saizvršilaštvo). │
│ • SENTENCE RANGE: 10 Years to Life Imprisonment. │
│ • LOGIC: Deliberate coordination and luring of the victim. │
│ │
│ [ CURRENT LEGAL HAZARD: FAILURE TO REPORT ] │
│ • CHARGE: Failure to Report a Crime and Perpetrator (Član 332). │
│ • SENTENCE RANGE: Significantly lighter felony terms. │
│ • LOGIC: Being a passive witness who concealed institutional tracks. │
│ │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Olenik argued that if base station data proves the initial luring calls were made, Milić must face the full weight of the life imprisonment statute. Instead, the VJT is slowly retreating into positions that align perfectly with Milić’s own defense statements, a phenomenon Olenik noted he has never witnessed in a high-profile case within the region.
3. The “Senjak Case” Investigative Timeline
The case remains highly controversial due to delayed police raids and deep institutional friction between the police and the judiciary.
The Murder at Restaurant ’27’
May 12
Aleksandar Nešović Baja is shot and killed in a Senjak establishment. The primary shooter is identified as Saša Vuković (alias “Boske”). Initial reports place Belgrade Police Chief Veselin Milić at the table.
The Arrest and Dismissal
May 15
Milić is arrested alongside 10 others. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) issues an executive decree officially sacking Milić from his post as Chief of the Belgrade Police Directorate.
Discovery of the Body
May 21
Following an intensive search, Nešović’s body is discovered hidden inside a barrel in the municipality of Inđija (near Ruma), under the direct oversight of VJT prosecutors.
The Delayed Property Raid
May 29
In a move highly criticized by legal experts, police units wait 14 full days after Milić’s initial arrest to execute search warrants on his personal apartment and official police offices.
The Leaked Defense Statement
June 3
Milić’s defense attorney, Nemanja Vasiljević, leaks portions of the chief’s testimony, where Milić claims he is being framed by rival factions within the Criminal Police Directorate (UKP).
4. Structural Implications for Serbian Law Enforcement
| Key Legal Issue | Olenik’s Assessment | Systemic Danger |
| Prosecutorial Independence | “The prosecution cannot cross the street without police authorization.” | The VJT treats police field reports as holy scripture rather than critically evaluating the evidence. |
| Media Deflection | Public updates are designed as a smokescreen to redirect national headlines. | Shifting the conversation away from who actually controls the Serbian police force—criminal structures or legitimate state bodies. |
The Higher Court extended Milić’s detention strictly based on the risk of tampering with, hiding, or falsifying vital evidence and crime scene traces. According to Olenik, the chaotic handling of the case points to internal tribal warfare between law enforcement factions, with the prosecutor’s office acting as a public relations buffer rather than an independent judicial body.
