Krstović: I know that the state is sacrificing me, Đukanović, Abazović and Sekulović can testify

Following the presentation of written evidence, today the trial of Budimir Krstović and his daughter Marina continued in the High Court in Podgorica for smuggling 1.206 kilograms of cocaine.

Addressing the court, he said that he is the victim in this process and added that it would be easier for him if his child was not on the dock.

"I paid 250 to 300 million euros in taxes and contributions to this country. I didn't deserve this. I know that the state is sacrificing me. My family turned to the DEA, Mr. Escobar and representatives of the OSCE who are there and are following this trial. I invite the President of the State Milo Đukanović, Prime Minister Dritan Abazović, Sergej Sekulović to testify. Earlier they stated that we have nothing to do with this, my daughter keeps all those statements. I'm sure that the police have information whose drugs it is, but they were not allowed or wanted to go any further", said the defendant Krstović today.

The defense of the defendants today challenged the legally invalid evidence that is in the case file in this proceeding, and it is the search record.

The defense believes that other legally invalid evidence resulted from this.

The defense requested that the record of the search of warehouse premises be excluded from the case file as legally invalid evidence. They stated that the search was not conducted in the presence of anyone in those premises, and that Marina Krstović was not there either.

"We believe that all the evidence that came from this evidence is also legally invalid. They must be exempted because they were "poisoned" by the actions of the police that were contrary to the law," said lawyer Bojana Franović.

Lawyer Dragoljub Đukanović continued with his remarks.

"What hurts the accused is the drugs identified in a foreign port, and later in the Port of Bar. What was the need to deliver it to Krstović Budimir's warehouse will remain unknown. Therefore, both the customs and the police turned a blind eye to the existence of this drug in Bar. The same effect of discovering the shipment could have been created in the Port. The search of the container could have been done in the Port of Bar, and not in the warehouse where the police, for reasons known only to them, without waiting to see the reaction of the workers when they saw the drugs, burst in. And from the witness testimony of the police officers, it is clear that it was not possible to see and that even the workers did not know that there were drugs in the container", emphasized lawyer Dragoljub Đukanović and continued.

"What hurts me as a person and a lawyer, I have known Budimir Krstvoić for more than 30 years. An honorable and honest man. For 32 years, their company has continued to operate. The authorities did not stop the business. I make a difference between "no evidence" and when someone is "honest and innocent". It can also be that a person is guilty without any evidence, and only the one who has not committed a crime is innocent. I say and guarantee that you have innocent people before the court. Indictments should not be allowed to be drawn up like this," stressed lawyer Đukanović.

He added that he believes that Marina and Budimir Krstović are victims of the collapse of the action of the police and the Higher State Prosecutor's Office, as well as political games.

"What did this police action consist of?" In that, since it was a total failure, the police, with the help of the VDT and the court, found a way to declare the action successful. They were looking for the perpetrator, whom both Carina and the police know is outside the Krstović family. In all world and European ports, drugs would be confiscated immediately. However, in contact with someone from customs, with port workers, the one whose drug was and the one who was supposed to get it out, they gave up. When asked specifically what would have happened if the drugs had been in a container that was sent to Belgrade, the police officer testified that it would have been confiscated at the border and that was one of the versions," said lawyer Đukanović.