German journo shadowing group of refugees held in Croatia

A German reporter shadowing a group of migrants attempting to make their way to the EU has been detained in Croatia, according to a report on Croatian news website vecernji.hr on Sunday, reported dpa.

The group of migrants was also taken into custody on Friday in the Cetingrad region, which is near Croatia's border with Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The 44-year-old reporter was found guilty of illegally entering the country and ordered to pay a fine of 3,600 kuna (540 dollars). Charges that the reporter had been assisting the refugees were thrown out, as were people-smuggling charges.

Both charges carry a significantly heavier penalty than illegal entry to Croatia. The border police have appealed the ruling. No information about the group of refugees was available.

Croatia has been routinely accused of resorting to so-called pushbacks, sometimes using violence, to force illegal migrants back into neighbouring countries.