A mayor in Smederevo has been arrested over suspected illegal waste dumping near Jelen Dola, police action reported by N1 Serbia. The suspect, along with the head of the city administration and the director of the municipal company “Zelenilo i groblja”, was placed in custody for up to 48 hours. They are accused of failing to take environmental protection measures. The allegations focus on illegal waste being dumped in the area of Jelen Dola near the village of Radinac. Police suspect the dumping contaminated water sources and nature. According to statements quoted in the report, the city allegedly lacked documentation for waste disposal at that location. After that claim, the police unit for suppressing environmental crime began working on the case, following additional pressure from residents. Local residents and activists say wild dumps have been an issue for years, first in Godomin, and later again after it was closed, in Jelen Dola. They also described concerns about smoke and the impact on people, including children. The director of “Zelenilo i groblja” is additionally accused of illegal construction and of putting into operation facilities that allegedly pollute the environment. The report also says further criminal complaints have been announced, including allegations of irregularities linked to public procurement, with claims that large sums of money were paid to a firm connected with maintaining and servicing the depository and related infrastructure and cemeteries. The case is still at the custody and investigation stage, with the suspects held for up to 48 hours while charges relating to environmental protection measures are pursued. The Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Smederevo submitted a remand proposal after questioning the suspects for alleged “failure to take measures for environmental protection”. The request covers the acting mayor and two senior municipal officials. Prosecutors say the acting mayor allegedly failed to act to ensure municipal waste management, including not submitting proposals to resolve the problem of communal waste disposal, not setting aside budget funds, not pushing for a local waste management plan, and not overseeing the city company “Greenery and Cemeteries”, which they say is the city’s founder. The accusation is linked to the creation of an illegal dump described by prosecutors as jeopardising the environment over a wider area. The acting director of “Greenery and Cemeteries” is also accused. Prosecutors allege that, as the legal representative of the company, he organised waste disposal at the “Jelen Do” site in the village of Radinac without the required permits. They claim the waste was dumped on a site that does not meet prescribed conditions. The head of the city administration is accused for alleged failure to take measures, prosecutors pointing to alleged non-adoption of a local waste management plan and a detailed plan for a sanitary landfill, as well as alleged lack of oversight of the city’s waste-management company on multiple land parcels owned by the city. Prosecutors said the first information came from a police report on 28 October, based on a citizen complaint. After receiving the report, prosecutors requested additional information from the police, and on 2 November they visited the scene with the police’s environmental crime unit to order an on-site inspection. Prosecutors said all relevant inspectorate bodies produced records and reports up to the time of the suspects’ detention. The investigation also involves questions that prosecutors say fall under another jurisdiction relating to budget and EU funds, and they said they will forward the material they obtain to the competent prosecutor’s office in Belgrade. The remand request remains before the court. Updated 13 November 2026: Added prosecutor details on the remand request, alleged waste-management failures, the 28 October police report and 2 November scene visit from N1 Serbia.