The Special State Prosecutor's Office issued an order to conduct an investigation against the former Minister of Defense Predrag Bošković, former Secretary of State Slobodan Filipović and the former head of the Financial Operations Department Mark Drobnjak against whom criminal proceedings have been initiated for the prolonged criminal offense of abuse of official position.
The SDT investigation was opened on October 20 of this year, after the interrogations of the then suspects Bošković, Filipović and Drobnjak were completed.
The case in the Special State Prosecutor's Office was formed after the former Minister of Defense Olivera Injac, at the beginning of 2021, submitted a criminal complaint against Bošković to the prosecutor's office, due to the suspicion that he allegedly illegally paid money from the MoD budget to various non-governmental organizations, sports associations, fan groups with the explanation that they were promoting the activities of the Army of Montenegro and the values of NATO...
Prosecutor and spokesperson of SDT Vukas Radonjic confirmed to "Vijesti" that the subject of the investigation is the period from 2018 to 2020, when the defendants, as there is a well-founded suspicion, "by exceeding the limits of their official powers, obtained financial benefits for certain non-governmental organizations and other entities".
"And they caused damage to the budget of Montenegro, in the amount of 209.150,00 euros, by not complying with the Law on Non-Governmental Organizations and the Law on Sports. In order to protect the interests of the investigation, no more information can be given," said Radonjić.
The current mayor of Podgorica, Olivera Injac, after coming to the post of Minister of Defense, "searched" the business reports of the previous group while the Ministry of Defense was headed by Predrag Bošković, and then submitted a criminal complaint to the SDT due to the suspicion that money from the Ministry of Defense's budget was distributed to associations, in violation of legal procedures fans, local football clubs, organizations that promote domestic production, but also public companies...
Injac stated in the application that in the Ministry of Defense during 2019 and 2020, according to published competitions, six non-governmental organizations applied for seven projects for the allocation of money from the Ministry of Defense.
"Contracts were signed with them and funds were allocated to them in accordance with the Law on NGOs. Other funds were allocated without announcing the competition, based on requests from organizations for the implementation of various projects, connected or not with the goals and activities for which those organizations are registered, without signing contracts, and based on decisions made in accordance with Article 40 of the Law on Budget and Fiscal responsibilities", the Ministry of Defense claimed at the time.
In the criminal complaint, Injac stated that Bošković and his associates paid 2020 euros during 116.590, and the money was transferred to the accounts of 13 NGOs and some companies.
The report stated that during an internal investigation in the Ministry of Defense, they found that 20.000 euros were paid to "Green Podgorica" in the name of environmental protection around the building of the Ministry of Defense and strengthening the awareness of the youth about the importance of the environment...
The most money, as stated in the criminal complaint, was received in 2020 by the NGO "Try domestic" - 12.300, on the basis of "acquainting the rural area with the activities of the VCG", and that NGO received 8.000 euros on the same basis a year earlier.
While the Ministry of Defense was managed by Bošković for the promotion of the Army of Montenegro, 4.000 euros were transferred to the "Montenegro-South" fans' association, which were also given 2018 euros in 2.700, as well as to the NGO "Dukljani" fans of the Montenegrin national team.
NGOs "Pčela" and "Podvig" requested 4.000 euros each for organizing sports events, according to the application, so "Podvig" received 2019 euros in 9.500 for the project "Be safe", while "Pčela" received three thousands for the promotion of VCG.
In the application, it is also written that in 2018 "Pčela" received 7.500 euros for the project "Youth and the Army for Clean Hands" and 6.000 euros for educating young people about membership in NATO.
The NGO "Sveti Petar Cetinjski" received 500 euros for "promotion of NATO policies through the holding of a scientific summit regarding neo-fascism".
Transfers from the NGO account, and as written in the criminal complaint, during 2019, EUR 98.100 was paid from the MoD account to 25 organizations, associations, and companies.
In 2019, the media "Antena M" received 2.000 from the budget of the Ministry of Defense for the project "Montenegro". The same amount was paid to the NGO Association of Friends of Montenegro and Kosovo for "Roma education with the aim of promoting the VCG and NATO policies". In 2018, that NGO received 8.000 euros for the "Youth and the Army for Clean Hands" project, and in 2017, 5.500 euros for the "Euro-Atlantic Integration and Youth" project.
In 2019, according to Injac, the money was paid to the Organization of NOR Fighters (1.000 euros), and 3.000 euros each to the Military futsal team, the Sailing Club Mornar and the Shooting Association of Montenegro, which received 2018 euros in 5.500, and 2017 in 5.000. euros. The Military futsal team received 2018 euros from the Ministry of Defense in 2.600, and the Sailing Club Mornar received 2.500 euros.
During 2018, the Sports Equestrian Club Budućnost received money - 3.000, the Football Club Zabjelo - 2.000 euros.
Bošković: I experienced the opening of the investigation as a relief
Former Minister of the Ministry of Defense Predrag Bošković told "Vijesta" that the opening of the SDT investigation "was a relief".
"Since the case is before the judicial authorities and that, through the eventual procedure that would follow, an end will finally be put to what are political - media insinuations and smears on my account related to the period when I was the Minister of Defense, initiated solely for the purpose of discrediting me , as well as my associates", said Bošković in a statement.
He emphasized that he is completely calm about this case - like all others.
"I know that I performed the job of the Minister of Defense conscientiously in accordance with all legal regulations and that I did not cause any illegal benefit to any individual or organization by any action," claims the former minister.
Bošković stated that everything he did was aimed at developing the Army of Montenegro and strengthening the institutional capacities of the Ministry of Defense.
"I believe that I will prove it and that the end of the investigative-court proceedings against me will mark the end of the manipulation campaign aimed at personal discrediting. However, I do not expect an apology from those behind such a campaign, but it will still be a satisfaction for me personally, as well as for my family and friends who have been victims of these shameless subterfuges and personal animosity for years", concluded Bošković.
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