Businessman and president of the Atlas Group, Duško Knežević, said that he did not do anything illegal and that he did not give orders for such a thing, during the continuation of the trial in the "Global Carbon" case today in the High Court in Podgorica. He pointed out that the so-called "carbon" loans completely regular banking business and once again reiterated that he is a victim of the persecution of Milo Đukanović's regime, since he opened the "Envelope" and "No Man's House" scandals.
Knežević clarified that all loans were covered by collateral 100 percent, and that is why they were treated as neutral in banking operations.
"These types of loans are not rated risky. I had neither formal nor informal communication with the accused. I did not work at the counter and did not make decisions. All the employees in the 'Atlas Group' who worked were not brought from Škaljar, Kavčan or Zagorič. They were experts people. All the loans that were mentioned in the indictment were 'neutral', because they were loans that were secured by collateral. According to the banking classification, I state that 'Atlas Group' approved a loan of two and a half million euros and the real estate of the Atlas Group was given as a guarantee. It was a completely regular banking business. That's how those who controlled the business of 'Atlas Bank' treated it.
I assume that the Management Board formed 'Global Karbon' doo Podgorica", the accused businessman pointed out.
He said that he was a victim of political persecution and that he was treated that way by the authorities of Great Britain and Interpol.
"I repeat and claim that this proceeding against me is politically motivated and that in this regard SDT and this court should ask themselves whether they are part of it or not. The goal of the persecution is my conflict with Milo Đukanović and the fact that I raised several issues in regarding him... I filed about 14 criminal charges against various persons close to the DPS application, any proceedings were initiated. On the other hand, in the proceedings against me, the indictments were confirmed on the basis of falsified evidence," Knežević complained.
Then he referred to the subject of the indictment. If he had stolen some money, he said, he would not have bothered and borrowed money today.
"I was the main owner, I would not destroy my assets. I had brought Atlas Bank to perfection, together with the Chinese company. We could have a turnover of one billion euros on a daily basis. After the business started, after ten days, the controls began "I could have taken money out of businesses. I didn't do that. My current financial situation is proof of that, I can't support my family," said the businessman.
Knežević is accused of causing damage to the company "Global Karbon" and the legal entities "Fin Invest", "Atlas Grupa", RTV "Atlas", "RT Mimoza", "Atlas Sistem" and "Mega Gulf Investments Holdings Limited" obtained illegal cash in the amount of EUR 2008.
The defendant Duško Knežević and Đorđe Đurić, who became an associate witness in this case, as written in the indictment, deliberately instigated Biljana Bašović, the executive director of the company "Global Karbon", whose founder was Invest banka Montenegro AD Podgorica, with the intention of obtaining illegal property uses. Thus, in December 2008, Duško Knežević made a decision to transfer the 1.000.000 euros that are in the "Global Carbon" account with IBM Bank from the founding contribution paid by the founder of IBM Bank to the account of the non-resident legal entity "Mega Gulf Investemnts Holdings Limited", with Atlas Bank in Moscow for the purpose of closing the loan that that legal entity has with Atlas Bank in Moscow, whose repayment term has expired. The contract on the alleged purchase and sale of carbon credits, which will not happen, serves as the basis for the said money transfer. It was agreed that "Mega Gulf" would purportedly purchase carbon credits in the name and on behalf of "Global Karbon", which agreement served as the basis for the realization of the aforementioned monetary transaction. The transfer order was filled out by Brankica Bašović, certified by her signature, and transferred funds in the amount of one million euros from the "Global Kartbon" account to the "Mega Gulf" account.
The indictment also mentions the loans arranged by Knežević, when, in order to realize the criminal plan, he made the decision that IBM Bank approves a loan to "Global Carbon" in the amount of 500.000 euros, and that the means of securing the return of the loan will be a deposit of "Global Carbon" in in the amount of EUR 500.000, which, without the decision of the founder of IBM Bank, will be given from the founding role of that legal entity which was paid by IBM Bank to the legal entity "Global Karbon".
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