The Special State Prosecutor's Office suspects businessman Duško Knežević of having formed a criminal group that illegally obtained millions of profits over the years.
That is why yesterday morning, with an arrest warrant, inspectors came to his apartment, where they did not find him because he is supposedly in London.
His defense attorney, lawyer Zoran Piperović, told "Vijesta" yesterday that he does not know whether Knežević will surrender to Montenegrin investigators.
"I will know about his further steps and determination in relation to responding to the invitation of the Special State Prosecutor's Office in the next few days," said the lawyer.
Knežević's arrest was requested by the special prosecutor Lidija Vukčević, on whose order three close associates of the businessman who controls Atlas and Invest banka, as well as several companies belonging to the Atlas group, were arrested yesterday.
Vukčević suspects Knežević of having created a criminal organization that illegally obtained millions of profits by abusing its powers in the economy.
Knežević is allegedly not in Montenegro. According to "Vijesti" information, he has been staying in London for days. Sources close to Knežević claim that the man from Podgorica traveled to Great Britain to avoid arrest.
Allegedly, in addition to Montenegrin, Knežević also holds Cypriot citizenship, which is why his eventual extradition to Montenegro may be questionable.
Yesterday, the Special State Prosecutor's Office did not answer whether they had asked for a warrant to be issued for Knežević.
Piperović confirmed to "Vijesta" that the businessman contacted him yesterday, but claims that they did not discuss the whereabouts of the owner of Atlas Group.
"It is true that Mr. Knežević contacted me by phone, without telling me where he was. Of course, for reasons of decency, I didn't even ask where he was. They will provide me with a power of attorney in electronic form, which I already informed the special prosecutor Lidija Vukčević about by phone, considering that some hearings are already underway, and that after I deliver the power of attorney, I would be notified in order to attend those hearings," Piperović said.
He explained that now he does not know what his client is charged with.
"I will only see that after handing over the power of attorney, in order to have more detailed information about what the SDT is charging Knežević with and for which crime." I don't know if it has anything to do with the earlier arrests of his officials. I suppose there is, but let's wait and see," Piperović said.
Responding to "Vijesti", he said that Knežević did not tell him whether the police were looking for him at his home address yesterday, but also how he knew that Vukčević was looking for him.
"I didn't ask him how he knew they were looking for him, but I assume he found out as soon as he informed me," said Piperović.
He could not confirm speculations that Knežević has British citizenship in addition to Cypriot citizenship.
"We did not discuss that," said Knežević's lawyer.
On the order of prosecutor Vukčević, the arrests of Knežević's current and long-term associates continued yesterday.
Members of the Special Police Department handcuffed Brankica Bašović and two long-time managers of Knežević Bank, Đorđe Đurđić and Marko Nikolic.
Đurđić is the former chief executive officer of Atlas banka, and now he is in another bank, while Nikolić was the chief executive officer until the receivership arrived.
Brankica Bašović, Knežević's close associate, has been the "guardian" of his business secrets for many years.
They were arrested in the SDT investigation into alleged money laundering and illegal operations of the Atlas Group, which is controlled by Knežević.
The special police department filed criminal charges against 174 individuals and legal entities for the illegal acquisition of more than half a billion euros, and six former and current employees of Atlas Bank are among the suspects.
For years, Brankica Bašović was one of Knežević's most trusted people and was privy to the business connections of the controversial company Fiesta Investments LTD registered in Mauritius, which was accused by American investigators as a participant in corruption during the privatization of Telekom Crne Gore in 2012.
Fiesta Investments has been mentioned since April 26, 2007 as the second founder of Attika Land Podgorica. The first formal founder and director of Attika Land was Brankica Bašović. Bašović remained the director of Attika even after the third change of the name of the founder of the same company on December 11, 2007, when Fiesta was replaced by the new company "Ridley Park" Podgorica. Bašović was the executive director of Attika Land until February 7, 2008.
Fiesta Investment Ltd, was previously involved in mediating the broadcasting of the satellite program of the Television of Montenegro. Broadcasting first cost about 800.000 euros per year, and then about 600.000 euros. At first, that cost was covered by a foreign donation, but then, until the transformation into a public service, that work for TVCG was contracted and paid for by the Government through Fiesta.
In 2012, the Atlas Group denied any connection with this company, noting that "neither the Atlas Group, nor its owner or any company owned by the Atlas Group, is the owner of the company Fiesta Investments from Mauritius."
The special state prosecutor's office has been investigating the operations of Atlas and Invest Bank for months due to alleged money laundering.
A couple of nights ago, Atlas Bank's head of accounting BIljana Bašović, the daughter of Knežević's close associate Brankica Bašović, was arrested and detained after hearing.
The directors maintain that they are not guilty
The former general executive director of Kneževića banka, Marko Nikolić, denied yesterday in front of the prosecutor Vukčević that he committed the criminal acts that she suspects him of.
This is what his defense attorney, lawyer Željko Đukanović, told "Vijesta". "My client Marko Nikolić is suspected of the criminal offense of creating a criminal organization under Art. 401a st. 2 and the criminal offense of abuse of authority in the economy through assistance from Art. 276 paragraph 2. He defended himself in front of the special prosecutor Lidija Vukčević and completely denied the commission of criminal acts and the undertaking of any action for which he is suspected", said Đukanović.
He explained that the proceedings are secret and that at this stage he cannot speak more specifically about what he suspects his client of.
"He was ordered to be detained for up to 72 hours, and the prosecutor will decide within that period whether he will ask the investigating judge to order custody, or whether my client will be released to defend himself," Đukanović said.
Brankica Bašović and Đorđo Đurđić, who denied guilt, were also detained. Yesterday, Biljana Bašović was released after three days in police custody. Prosecutor Vukčević did not propose to the investigating judge to send the head of accounting, who was arrested three days ago, to the Investigation Prison.
Bonus video:
