Predrag Veljić (58) from Berane admitted to a misdemeanor judge this morning that he uttered insults and threats three days ago in front of the Higher Court in Podgorica, but claims that they were not directed only at "Libertas" photojournalist Savo Prelević, but at all journalists.
After questioning, he was released to defend himself from custody.
Video: Boris Pejović
He said before the misdemeanor judge that he apologized if he had offended Prelević.
Veljić was arrested last night around midnight, on the orders of the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica, and the Police Directorate is charging him with committing violations under Articles 7 and 8 of the Law on Public Order and Peace.
Prelević and his legal representative, attorney Dalibor Tomović, today asked the court to review the audio-video recording of the incident. However, this was not possible today because the Minor Offences Court in Podgorica did not have a loudspeaker, which is why the hearing was postponed to March 4.
After the hearing, Tomović said that he believed that, given the prosecutor's binding instruction, the defendant should have been immediately detained and questioned as soon as the incriminating act occurred.
"These are two misdemeanors that the prosecution has charged - insults and threats, and both carry fines and prison sentences," said Tomović.
Video: Boris Pejović
"Officers of the Podgorica Security Department have taken measures and actions within their jurisdiction regarding the events of February 12, 2025, and in connection with allegations from a newspaper article published in the media, which referred to threats by PV to a photojournalist from the Libertas press media, SP. By order of the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica, police officers of the Podgorica Security Department have deprived PV (58) of his liberty due to violations under Articles 7 and 8 of the Law on Public Order and Peace," the Police Directorate announced today.
Veljić threatened and insulted Prelević three days ago, while the latter was on a work assignment in front of the Higher Court building in Podgorica.
This accused member of Aleksandar Mrkić's criminal group told Prelević: "Look, hero, take a picture of me, and I'll smash it over your head, you idiot. Did you hear..."
Lawyer Zdravko Begović, who was at the entrance to the court, told Veljić at the time that "people are just doing their job."
However, Veljić continued to insult.
"You bum..." Veljić said to Prelević, and then entered the court, where he is being tried for working for Mrkić, who is accused of cigarette smuggling.
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