OFFICERS CHARGED WITH POLICE BRUTALITY

( Editorial: --> 8180 ) SIBENIK, Sept 4 (Hina) - Six police officers were Friday charged with police brutality after an Italian citizen succumbed to injuries after resisting arrest on Tuesday night. Police was called to a restaurant in Sibenik (central Adriatic) to deal with Italian Ricard Cetina's, 44, disorderly conduct. Cetina resisted arrest and attacked a police officer. Police were inclined to use force to apprehend Cetina, during which he sustained injuries to the head. He died at a Split hospital on Thursday. Three officers on duty at Sibenik's station were suspended for failing to perform their duties as had been expected. A police commission is continuing their investigation into the case and will inform the public about the results of the probe. It will also take further disciplinary measures and file charges, if necessary, for causing heavy bodily harm. Police spokesman Slavko Rako told police the Italian citizen had been at the Vis restaurant near Sibenik. He demanded, with an inappropriate tone of voice, to be let a room, then smashed a bottle and left the restaurant. The owner notified the police of the incident. One police vehicle arrived at the location, while the other went in pursue of Cetina's vehicle. Cetina refused to pull over, rather he increased the speed. At a cross-roads, Cetina collided with a car driving in the opposite direction. At the police officers' attempt to arrest Cetina, he resisted and assaulted an officer by biting him and kicking the rest in the legs. The officers overstepped their authority and used force to contain the Italian, Rako said. Instead of apprehend him in handcuffs, the officers used police battons and excessive force. Cetina lost consciousness in the police vehicle on the way to the station. An ambulance was called which took him to the Sibenik hospital on September 2. Police officials were only informed about the incident on Tuesday afternoon, which is another slip-up, Rako said. Cetina had been transported to the Split hospital where it was established that his brain functions had ceased. Asked for an explanation by reporters, Sibenik-Knin County police commissioner, Drago Matic, said the police officers on site had assumed Cetina had been inebriated. An autopsy will be performed on Friday night by pathologist Dusan Zecevic, and on behalf of the Italian Embassy in Zagreb. Head of the Interior Minister's cabinet, Zdravko Zidovec, said the case was very grave and the cause of death will be known only after the autopsy has been performed. Police officers made obvious mistakes in conduct, he added. The Croatian Interior Ministry's wish is to bring closure to the case, and will inform the public on the results, Zidovec said. The police officers involved in the incident had no traces of alcohol, they are experienced officers, had never violated the official discipline, and had even been awarded by the Sibenik-Knin and Primosten tourist associations, Matic said. Riccard Cetina was born in August 27, 1954. We was a dentist in Genova. He came into Croatia on August 27 where he stayed with relatives in Opatija. (hina) lml 042036 MET sep 98