Veljović: I am not a member of a criminal organization

"This is a staged political process. I believe that this indictment, as well as the previous three criminal reports against me, will be dismissed. I will defend my honor," Veljović said in his defense.

"I said that I know Aleksandar Mrkić. He owned a cigarette factory. He is from Mojkovic like me. I never entered that factory. I have a good opinion about that family," the accused said.

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Veselin Veljović arrives at the trial yesterday, Photo: Luka Zeković
Veselin Veljović arrives at the trial yesterday, Photo: Luka Zeković
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

Former director of the Police Administration Veselin Veljović he said yesterday that a rigged, political process was being conducted against him and that he did not help Aleksandar Mrkić to smuggle cigarettes.

He announced this at the beginning of the trial in the Podgorica High Court, where he is charged with creating a criminal organization and abuse of office.

Before the special panel, presided over by a judge Vesna Kovačević, the defendant Veljović presented his defense, but did not want to answer the questions of the Special State Prosecutor's Office.

They accuse him of using confidential information to help the alleged head of a criminal organization, Aleksandar Mrkić, to smuggle cigarettes.

Veljović rejected the allegations of that act - that he helped Aleksandar Mrkić to smuggle cigarettes. He said that the elders informed him that the seizure of cigarettes was in progress, and that he supported them to bring the action to an end.

He stated that he has never used an encrypted phone.

"I understood the indictment. I plead not guilty. I do not admit to the crime. This is a staged political process. I believe that this indictment, as well as the previous three criminal reports against me, will be dismissed. I will defend my honor," Veljović said in his defense.

Veselin Veljović
photo: Luka Zeković

Referring to the allegations in the indictment, he stated that the indictment against him does not contain any legally valid evidence.

"None of the prosecution's witnesses accused me of any criminal act in their testimony. I have not abused my official position and I am not a member of a criminal organization. I do not know any of the accused except for Aleksandar Mrkić, as I know a huge number of people in Montenegro. I responsibly claim that I had no dealings with Mrkić that would imply any form of cooperation. I said that I know Aleksandar Mrkić. He had a cigarette factory. He is from Mojkov just like me. I never entered that factory. I have a fine opinion of that family. I knew him as a man who was involved in business. If I had known that Mrkic had some illegal activities, I would have stopped contact. Our communication was civil. We drank coffee in Žabljak when I was with my family. I asked him why he was not finishing the hotel in Žabljak. Mrkić told me that he had no money. I knew that he was building an ethnic village in Nikšić, that he was engaged in tourism, but I had never been there," Veljović said.

He added that Mrkić's cigarette factory in Mojkovac had been checked before and that after three years "the papers were returned".

Answering the questions of his counsel, the lawyer Nikola Martinović, said that he never received a criminal police activity plan in advance.

"That was not in my job description as director of the Police Directorate. Daily operational activities were at the level of Security Centers. It was never my area of ​​responsibility. As director of the Police Directorate, I never received a report and operational data. The information I received was communicated at the collegium when the elder was introducing us to the previously realized actions. After systematizing the work, I did not receive a plan of activities that are ongoing or planned. Even as the security advisor to the president, this was not within my competence," said Veselin Veljović.

Veselin Veljović
photo: Luka Zeković

Talking about the two actions of confiscation of large quantities of cigarettes from Predrag Veljić i Drumming, he said that he supported his colleagues to carry out the action to the end.

"I have nothing to hide. I voluntarily gave the codes for my mobile phone and computer. I've never had an encrypted phone. I don't know Muja Nikočevića, I have never seen him. I had no contact with Predrag Veljić either. When there was a large seizure of cigarettes, I supported my colleagues in that activity. I worked in the MUP until December 17, 2020, and the next day I moved to a new position - security advisor to the president of the state. Therefore, after December 17, when it was my last working day in the police, I did not have any professional contacts with members of the police," said Veljović.

Answering the questions of his counsel, the lawyer Danil Mićović, said that he had no knowledge that 22/23. In December 2020, the investigating judge issued an order to search the house of Mujo Nikočević.

"Neither as the director of the Police Administration, nor as an advisor to the President of the State, I had no communication with the judges for the investigation, nor with the prosecutors and the police," stated Veljović in his defense.

To the questions of the president of the panel, judge Vesna Kovačević, the defendant Veljović stated that he spoke with Aleksandar Mrkić regarding his cigarette factory in Mojkovac.

"He told me that he produces three brands of cigarettes, that he regularly pays taxes to the state, that he pays wages to workers. It's a civil conversation. I was not aware if there is a warehouse in the Port of Bar. I resented him for not finishing the hotel in Žabljak. He never called me on the phone regarding Bulatović, Bubanja...after they were arrested. I was not invited by Aleksandar Mrkić to influence or intervene with the chief special prosecutor Milivoj Katnić or the special prosecutor Saša Čađenović after the arrest of Bubanja, Bulatović and others", said Veselin Veljović in his defense.

Defendant Nikola Mrkić said in his defense that he does not recognize the allegations in the indictment.

"I am not a member of any criminal or political organization. I don't know what to defend myself against. I didn't run away anywhere. I went to the police and gave a statement at the prosecutor's office, I cooperated and answered all the questions asked. I had business cooperation with the accused Predrag Veljić. I know the accused Mujo Nikočević, we played basketball in elementary school in Konik. I didn't use an encrypted phone. I did not send messages to anyone, especially not criminogenic messages. I have never sold cigarettes. I was not employed in a company that sold cigarettes. My company never dealt with that, but with construction. My brother Alexander, I am convinced that he never engaged in smuggling. My brother is not the owner of the company 'Montenegro Tabaco'. He has many companies abroad. I don't know whose company it is and how I could find out. "My brother never told me that if I ever got stuck in something, Veselin Veljović would help me," said Nikola Mrkić in his defense.

Nikočević and Mrkić remain in custody

The panel of judge Vesna Kovačević rejected the proposal of lawyers Zdravko Begović and Dražen Medojević to terminate the detention of Mujo Nikočević and Nikola Mrkić.

The defense pointed out that the accused have been in custody for 15 months.

Lawyer Medojević added that Nikola Mrkić became a hostage.

Attorney Begović cited court practice and stated that many, even accused organizers of criminal organizations, defend themselves from freedom, because their custody was terminated with bail.

Special prosecutor Vukas Radonjić opposed the defense's proposal, pointing out that the detention should have been extended for Veselin Veljović and that the prosecution appealed against the court's decisions.

He also added that Aleksandar Mrkić, who is being tried in absentia and is the brother of the accused Nikola Mrkić, exchanged messages with Veljović, that he should call "Kata" to release those arrested for cigar smuggling.

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