Zoran Ćoćo Bećirović denied guilt in the attack on Pobjeda journalist Ana Raičković at today's hearing at the Basic Court in Podgorica.
The attack on Raičković took place on November 10th last year. In addition to Bećirović, his son Luka Bećirović, Mladen Mijatović and Ljubiša Dukić were also arrested for the attack.
He said he would only answer questions from the defense attorneys.
"I'm sitting in the garden of the Gurman restaurant, a large car is parked, I throw a tantrum at a girl who is dressed as if she's going to the city, the way a man would throw a tantrum at a girl, and she reacted to my words rudely and nervously, so I threw something at her again, the usual way men do, and she continued with that nervous behavior. At one point she said, 'Oh, my poor thing, you'll see, there's no one left to defend you.' I then realized that she recognized me. That altercation lasted about ten minutes, after which she took the food and I saw her leave in her car," Bećirović said at the trial.
He said that during that altercation, he did not hurt or threaten Ana Raičković with a single word.
"Apart from her saying she would call the police, I also remember her mentioning the name of one of my friends, and out of politeness I won't say what she said on that occasion. I replied to her, "Come on, you in leather pants." I remember her mentioning something about my age, and during those 10 minutes we didn't communicate constantly, that was on two or three occasions at her insistence, and I can't remember any other words," said Bećirović.
When asked by the defense attorney whether he recognized the journalist Raičković, Bećirović said that he had never seen her.
"I didn't know she was a journalist, nor did she pretend to be one. I don't know that Ana Raičković, as a journalist, ever wrote anything negative about me. I don't remember her writing anything bad about my close relatives, and now, reading the case files, I found out that she wrote something about the trial of my brother, and she also wrote about an event from Delta where I was mentioned, but I didn't read any of it and experienced it as bad. I don't read newspapers or Pobjeda, but rather portals, and when someone writes something bad about me, I usually get notified by my lawyers or friends. I only found out from the police that Ana is a journalist," Bećirović said at the trial.
He also said that since 2011, the media has called him a controversial businessman.
"In the beginning, I sent statements and denials, and later, when the journalist ombudsman started working, I wrote him complaints. In the last year until the publication of my book, there has not been a month that the ombudsman of "Dan" and "Vijesti" has not admitted that journalists violated the code of ethics in relation to me, and I have collected documentation about all this, which I have compiled in two issues. I have always reacted to such attacks only by seeking institutional protection. As far as this procedure is concerned, I have no objections to the work of journalists. I have never mentioned Ana Raičković in my statements. She and her family have never been threatened by me and will never be threatened by me," said Bećirović.
He added that there is video surveillance of the entire event "from which it will certainly be determined how everything happened."
"I did not pull or strangle Ana by her hair, nor did I pull her arm or do anything else, and I did not see anyone else do it," Bećirović said.
He said he was also detained when the police arrived, "even though they were attacked."
"We pointed out several times at the police station the injuries that Mladen Mijatović had and sought medical help, but they detained us despite everything, and no one in the police station provided him with medical help," said Bećirović.
Mladen Mijatović also denied the accusation.
The indictment alleges that on November 10 last year at around 21 p.m., on Blaža Jovanovića Street, Zoran and Luka Bećirović, Mijatović and Dukić, in a group, by rudely insulting, abusing and committing violence against others, provoking fights and behaving insolently and recklessly, endangered the peace of citizens and disturbed public order and peace.
After a barrage of insults and threats, Raičković told Bećirović that he was not talking to her and that he would respect his age, after which he continued, and Mijatović joined him even more vigorously, who stood up and aggressively walked towards her. Raičković said that she would call the police, took the phone in her hands and said that she would record everything he said, after which Mijatović started aggressively walking towards her again and wanted to take the phone from her, which forced her to stop recording. Bećirović then said to Mijatović: "Record, record the license plate, we will find her". Raičković moved away and at 21.09:XNUMX p.m. called the police, and then contacted her son and fiancé, who had heard the insults and threats from Mijatović and Bećirović, who arrived before the police to protect her.
"Ljubiša Dukić approached her vehicle and told her to start the car and leave immediately, and persistently persuaded her not to cause any problems, that the defendants Bećirović Zoran and Mijatović Mladen had been drinking and that it was best to leave it that way, after which he went to allegedly talk to the defendants Bećirović Zoran and Mijatović Mladen," the indictment states.
When Raičković's son and fiancé arrived, the conflict culminated.
Mladen Mijatović said, "As far as I was aware, no one had laid a finger on Ana Raičković."
Responding to questions from the defense attorney, Mijatović said that Bećirović is "co-owner or owner of the 'Aktuelno' portal, and that he has no intention of taking revenge on Ana Raičković or her family."
Zoran Bećirović's son, Luka Bećirović, also denied guilt, as did Ljubiša Dukić.
The motion to terminate the detention of Bećirović and Mijatović was rejected, and the next hearing is scheduled for February 6th.
Bonus video:
