The trial of Dalibor Ljekočević, a police inspector accused of extorting a statement from Benjamin Mugoša in May 2020, continued before the Basic Court in Podgorica.
Action for Human Rights (HRA) announced that police inspector Vukašin Leković testified today, who was in contact with Mugoš on the day of the event and on that occasion escorted him from the police offices to the detention facilities of CB Podgorica.
"That day, I was working the second shift. I came to the offices of CB Podgorica at 15 p.m. The superior, Srđan Korać, told me that there was a person in the office whose police detention period would expire in twenty minutes, and that it was necessary to call the prosecutor in order to see what should be done with him next. The prosecutor ordered the deprivation of liberty. When I entered the office, Benjamin Mugoša was alone. I did not notice any visible injuries on his face. When I say visible, I mean that he did not have major redness, bruises, bleeding, but I really didn't examine him, he didn't twist my shirt, or show me his extremities. Since he didn't complain to me about any abuse, I didn't pay attention. Also, I'm not an expert, but the bruises don't even show up right away. We we were together in the period between 15 and 16 p.m., when I took him to the detention facilities," said Leković.
HRA states that in his statement before the prosecution in September 2020, Mugoša stated that, half an hour after the police officers returned him from the dark room where he was abused to the office on the first floor, Inspector Leković entered there, who treated him correctly.
"However, he also stated that later, when he was placed in the detention facilities, the NM police officer registered his injuries, which were noticeable. The forensic medicine expert stated in his report and opinion that Mugoša suffered injuries in the form of bruises on his head , in the area of the right eye and nose, as well as bruises and scratches that could have been caused by punches and shod feet. Additional forensic medical expertise confirmed that these injuries could have occurred on the day of the examination on May 28, 2020, as well as that could have been caused by punches with boxing gloves, which all correspond to Mugoša's report of police torture," the HRA press release states.
Mugoša reported that he was tortured by several police officers that day, but so far he was able to recognize only Ljekočević.
At the next hearing, three police inspectors who cooperated with Ljekočević, Nemanja Vujošević, Ljubisav Striković and Danilo Grbović, will be questioned on the critical day. Also, their boss Srđan Korać, who serves as the head of the Criminal Police Station for the Suppression of Blood Offenses and Domestic Violence in the Podgorica Security Center, will also testify.
Bonus video:
