Renata Radić-Dragić, a journalist with the Centre for Investigative Reporting (CIN), and cameraman Dženat Dreković were assaulted on Thursday afternoon in Brčko while filming footage for an upcoming story.
Dreković sustained minor injuries, while Radić-Dragić was sent for further medical evaluation due to the distress caused by the incident.
Police responded to the scene, and the attackers were taken into custody at the Brčko District Police Station. CIN has confirmed that the individuals taken into custody are indeed members of the Bogičević family. They claimed ownership of the building where the betting shop filmed by Dreković and Radić-Dragić is located. After giving statements to the police, they were released.
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One family member will face charges for inflicting minor bodily harm and damaging property, with the Brčko District Prosecutor’s Office set to determine the next steps.
Radić-Dragić and Dreković are investigating Brčko politician and businessman Zoran Kokanović, who owns various residential and commercial properties, including betting shops, which they were filming on this occasion in the Ilićka neighbourhood of Brčko.
As they were filming, a group of people, including members of the Bogičević family, emerged from the building, shouting and attempting to prevent the journalists from recording their property. Despite identifying themselves and explaining what they were filming and why—while emphasising that they were doing so from a public space—the Bogičević family refused to engage in conversation and instead resorted to physical assault.
They grabbed the journalist’s notes from her hands, damaged her bag, snatched her umbrella, and pulled on her jacket. They forcibly took the cameraman’s tripod, damaging it in the process, while attempting to seize his mobile phone. Dreković sustained minor injuries while trying to de-escalate the situation, protect the equipment, and document the incident.
To avoid further escalation, the journalist and cameraman moved to the other side of the street and waited for the police to arrive.
