Croatia: Civil servant and rescuer believed to be behind attack on disabled elderly Serb returnee

Skalamera categorically denied that he threatened Dobrivoje Arsic on an ethnic basis, as well as emphasizing (against) racial intolerance against any person

42-year-old Matko Skalamera, head of the Regional Office for Protection and Rescue of Rijeka, Croatia, was yesterday morning questioned by the Municipal State Prosecutor's Office on suspicion of committing the criminal offense of making threats and inflicting bodily harm based on nationality, with 70-year-old Dobrivoje Arsic as his alleged victim.

Considering that he spent more than an hour inside the premises of the Prosecution, accompanied by attorneys Arsen Stipinovic and Dusko Miocic, it can be assumed that the suspect Skalamera was presenting an active defense.

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According to unofficial information, Skalamera categorically denied that he threatened Dobrivoje Arsic on an ethnic basis, as well as emphasizing (against) racial intolerance against any person.

Skalamera is accused of making serious threats against Arsic because of his national identity.

The police further stated that this is a civil servant who had been transferred to the Civil Protection Directorate from the State Protection and Rescue Directorate on January 1. Under the Civil Servants Law, he will be removed from office.

Skalamera is a longtime experienced member of the Rijeka Mountain Rescue Service rescue team, a top mountain climber, a person who has so far saved many people in need from life-threatening circumstances.

(Telegraf.rs/novilist.hr)