Alarming figures: Number of registered pedophiles in Serbia increased by almost 100 in one year

The number of pedophiles in Serbia entered into the register envisaged by Marija's Law has increased by almost a hundred persons in a year.

While there were 279 recorded pedophiles in October last year, according to the latest data, this black list has been expanded to include another 92 names, the daily Politika is reporting. Currently, 371 pedophiles are registered, according to the data of the Department for Execution of Criminal Sanctions of the Ministry of Justice submitted to this newspaper.

All of them have been convicted for one of the crimes against sexual freedom against minors.

This register was adopted in September 2015, and since then the list has grown exponentially. At the beginning of last year, for example, there were 96 names on the records, only for that number to triple by October of the same year.

Igor Juric, the founder of the Tijana Juric Foundation, told Politika that this number is just "a drop in the ocean." He believes that this is only a fraction of the actual number of perpetrators of such crimes.

"Victims feel encouraged to report such cases. That is something we have done well. When I say we, I mean the system, us NGOs and you media that propagated that register. Also, the police did a good job in terms of detecting pedophiles on social networks. They perfected the ways of doind such searches and that is why the number in the register is now higher," concludes Igor Juric.

Names of pedophiles are not available to the public

The provisions of the law governing the protection of personal data and data secrecy apply to the data contained in the register of pedophiles. This means that the names of pedophiles from this register are not available to the public.

This data is given to courts, public prosecutors and the police.

"Also, with a justified request, it can be submitted to a state body, company, other organization or entrepreneur, if the legal consequences of the conviction are still ongoing and if there is justified interest based in the law," the Department for Execution of Criminal Sanctions explained for the daily.

They added that the data from this special record can also be given to foreign state bodies, in accordance with international agreements. State and other bodies, as well as legal entities or entrepreneurs who work with minors, are under obligation to request information on whether a person they intend to hire, i.e., one whose job involves interactions with minors, is in the "pedophile register."

"Perpetrators of these criminal offenses who have served their sentences are under obligation to report to the police and the Department for Execution of Criminal Sanctions (the Commissioner's Office), which deal with enforcement and control. After serving their prison sentence, they must report to the police and the commissioner every month, no later than the 15th day of the month. If they do not do that, the commissioner informs the court," the Department for Execution of Criminal Sanctions concluded.

Those convicted for sex crimes against minors are prohibited from visiting places where minors gather (kindergartens, schools...) They are also under obligation to undergo professional counseling in centers and institutions.

The court cannot mitigate sentences handed down to pedophiles, nor can they be released on parole.

In the last month, several cases of sex crimes against minors have been recorded in Serbia.

The most current one is that of a coach of juniors in a football club from Surdulica, 36-year-old A.F. He was questioned a few days ago in the Basic Prosecutor's Office in Vladicin Han, and has been detained for up to 30 days. The coach allegedly sent messages of sexual nature over the phone to a young football player - a 13-year-old boy whom he was coaching.

According to the prosecution, he has been detained for committing incriminating acts against a minor, which can be characterized as illegal sexual acts, while the evidence found in his apartment has been sent for expert evaluation.

The club, FK Radnik, suspended this coach after the police informed them about the case.

(Telegraf.rs)