The trial of former special prosecutor Saša Čađenović, which was supposed to begin today in the High Court in Podgorica, was postponed to July 16, because instead of a special panel composed of three judges, only judge Nada Rabrenović was in the courtroom.
Special State Prosecutor Miloš Šoškić referred to the Code of Criminal Procedure, because these cases must be judged by a panel composed of three judges.
The defense also pointed to the decisions of the Constitutional Court regarding the unjustified duration of detention in which Čađenović is being held. Lawyer Lazar Aković reminded that Čađenović has been in custody for almost 19 months and reminded that during all that time his trial has not yet started, and here it is not even today.
"Thirteen months after the indictment was filed, the trial has not started even today. As a defense, we have a legitimate reason to suspect that it is obstruction of the court," he told reporters after the adjourned hearing.
In the courtroom, Aković recalled the earlier merger of the proceedings against Saša Čađenović with the proceedings against Radoj Zvicer and the group and then the separation. He pointed out that the defense believes that, given that Čađenović has not yet presented his defense, this is obstruction.
"I believe that the circumstances for which Čadjenović's detention was ordered and extended have weakened over time, and the original reasons, in my opinion, are no longer sufficient to justify the detention of 19 months that he is in custody. There is no risk of Čadjenović's escape. He really suffered serious consequences of detention and His priority and interest is not to escape, but to prove his innocence, to defend his own image and his family's. If if his guilt is proven, it is not disputed, he should be criminally responsible and be convicted. This is in the interest of justice and society," said lawyer Lazar Aković, addressing the court.
Aković emphasized that the courts should not shy away from the reaction of the political elite and pressure from the public, who generally put undue pressure on the work of the courts.
"I am asking you to dare and make an impartial, objective and legal decision to end the custody of Čađenović. The accused Saša Čađenović has been in custody for almost 19 months, and his trial only started today. So, 13 months after the indictment. So much for the zeal of this court and the trial within a reasonable time. "If the proceedings against the accused Čađenović had not been merged with the proceedings against the accused Zvicer and the group, today the proceedings against the accused Čadjenović would most likely have been concluded before this court," the lawyer stressed.
Aković reminded Judge Nada Rabrenović that the Constitutional Court of Montenegro made several decisions, the last of which was from May 2024 in which it accepted the constitutional appeals of Saša Čađenović and annulled the decisions of the Supreme, Appellate and High Courts on prolonged detention.
The extra-judicial panel of the High Court in Podgorica will decide on the proposal to cancel custody of Čađenović, lawyer Aković explained.
Čađenović was arrested in December 2022 on suspicion of having committed the criminal offense of creating a criminal organization and several criminal offenses of abuse of office. The Special Prosecutor's Office suspects him of subordinating his official activities to the interests of the Kavaka criminal clan.
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