Legal Proceedings Conclude in Lučani Factory Explosion Case
Two former managers convicted for negligence in the 2017 explosion that claimed two workers' lives.
In a recent legal development, former managers of the 'Milan Blagojević' military factory in Lučani, Serbia, were sentenced for their roles in an explosion that resulted in the deaths of two workers in July 2017. Toma Stojić and Doran Lončarević received three-year prison sentences each for their involvement in what has been classified as a serious crime against public safety.
This ruling follows a protracted judicial process that lasted more than eight years.
On July 14, 2017, the explosion at the factory led to the immediate death of Milojko Ignjatović, aged 55, and critically injured his colleague Milomir Milivojević, aged 25, who succumbed to his injuries two weeks later at the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade.
The incident marked a significant tragedy in Serbia's defense industry, where safety regulations have come under scrutiny in the wake of previous fatal accidents.
Milovan Milivojević, the father of the deceased worker, expressed his discontent with the ruling, labeling it as a reflection of the broader failings within the Serbian judicial system.
He described the situation as a disgrace, emphasizing the longstanding issues of accountability in the industry, where he claims around twenty workers have died under similar circumstances without justice being served.
Milivojević stated that the management, including the late factory director Radoš Milovanović, bore greater responsibility for the events leading to the explosion than the lower-level staff on trial.
The legal representative for the victims, Vladimir Todorić, characterized the verdict as an inadequate response to the gravity of the case.
He criticized the judiciary's handling of the matter, claiming it exemplified a selective form of justice that fails to hold the more culpable parties accountable, which further undermines worker safety in the defense sector.
There has been public outcry surrounding the case, particularly following comments made by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, who remarked that Milivojević's son 'did not work on a fashion runway,' drawing ire from many who viewed the statement as dismissive.
As the case concludes, the potential for further legal scrutiny, including appeals to international courts, remains uncertain.
The outcome holds significant implications for labor rights and safety standards within Serbia's industrial sectors.
This ruling follows a protracted judicial process that lasted more than eight years.
On July 14, 2017, the explosion at the factory led to the immediate death of Milojko Ignjatović, aged 55, and critically injured his colleague Milomir Milivojević, aged 25, who succumbed to his injuries two weeks later at the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade.
The incident marked a significant tragedy in Serbia's defense industry, where safety regulations have come under scrutiny in the wake of previous fatal accidents.
Milovan Milivojević, the father of the deceased worker, expressed his discontent with the ruling, labeling it as a reflection of the broader failings within the Serbian judicial system.
He described the situation as a disgrace, emphasizing the longstanding issues of accountability in the industry, where he claims around twenty workers have died under similar circumstances without justice being served.
Milivojević stated that the management, including the late factory director Radoš Milovanović, bore greater responsibility for the events leading to the explosion than the lower-level staff on trial.
The legal representative for the victims, Vladimir Todorić, characterized the verdict as an inadequate response to the gravity of the case.
He criticized the judiciary's handling of the matter, claiming it exemplified a selective form of justice that fails to hold the more culpable parties accountable, which further undermines worker safety in the defense sector.
There has been public outcry surrounding the case, particularly following comments made by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, who remarked that Milivojević's son 'did not work on a fashion runway,' drawing ire from many who viewed the statement as dismissive.
As the case concludes, the potential for further legal scrutiny, including appeals to international courts, remains uncertain.
The outcome holds significant implications for labor rights and safety standards within Serbia's industrial sectors.
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