Jet ski attack on young kayakers and the police in Pančevo

Category: Above the law

Period: from 12 Aug 2025

Outcome: Indictment filed (as of 30 Jul 2026)

During a training session of the Pančevo Kayak and Canoe Club on 12 August 2025, the driver of a jet ski, M.J., sped through a group of children in canoes and capsized them. According to the indictment, six minors suffered minor injuries, and the driver then repeatedly rammed coach Nenad Miković. According to the coach, the first police patrol let the driver go without seizing the jet ski or carrying out an on-site investigation, and only a second patrol arrested him. The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Pančevo indicted him for attempted murder and causing general danger, and at the end of July 2026 the trial was still ongoing.

Jet ski through a group of children

During a training session of the Pančevo Kayak and Canoe Club on 12 August 2025, at around 19h, the driver of a jet ski, M.J., sped through a group of children in canoes and capsized them. According to the indictment, nine minors aged six to 15 were in the water, and six of them suffered minor injuries.

Coach Nenad Miković stood on a board to protect the children. According to the indictment, the driver then repeatedly rammed him at high speed, leaving him with minor injuries.

Rider let go from the scene

According to the coach, the first police patrol let the rider leave the scene, and he was arrested only by a second one; the jet ski was not seized, no on-site investigation was carried out, and the coach's paddle was taken from him. N1 learned unofficially from the Pančevo police that the rider was arrested “on the second attempt”, only after officers had seen the video.

The parents and the coach filed a complaint against those police officers.

The rider's alleged connections

The Nova.rs portal learned unofficially, “from several sources”, that the rider is the godson of Stevan Čigoja, head of the Pančevo Police Department, while provincial MP Bojan Jankulović of the Freedom and Justice Party said he is the son of a local businessman close to the Serbian Progressive Party.

A police spokesperson denied the godparent ties, and minister Ivica Dačić called the claims “made-up stories” and said he had requested a report. The findings of that report and the outcome of the complaint against the police officers have not been made public.

Indictment and trial

The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Pančevo took over the case and on 6 February 2026 filed an indictment for attempted murder and causing general danger. The trial before the Higher Court in Pančevo began on 21 April 2026. On 14 May, after nine months in custody, the defendant was released to house arrest with an electronic ankle monitor.

At the end of July 2026 the trial was still under way. Coach Miković says that neither he nor the children have received an apology.

Participants

Pančevo Police Department: According to the coach, the first patrol released the jet ski driver who capsized canoes carrying children “on a tip-off from the top”; a second patrol arrested him (responsible)
Stevan Čigoja: According to unofficial claims by the Nova.rs portal, he is the suspect's godfather, which the police and the minister deny (commented on the case)
Ivica Dačić: He called the claims that the suspect was being protected made-up stories and said he had requested a report (commented on the case)
Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia: It announced the driver's arrest, and the minister called the claims that the police were protecting the suspect made up (commented on the case)
Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Pančevo: Together with the police, it ordered the suspect held for up to 48 hours on suspicion of causing general danger (investigation and courts)
Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Pančevo: It ordered an investigation for attempted murder and filed an indictment for that offence and for causing general danger (investigation and courts)
Higher Court in Pančevo: It ordered detention, the trial began behind closed doors, and detention was replaced with a ban on leaving home (investigation and courts)
Bojan Jankulović: He said the driver was the son of a businessman close to the SNS and called for a ban on jet skis and for those responsible to be held accountable (oversight and the public)

Victims and others harmed

Nenad Miković