The Higher State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica announced yesterday to "Vijesti" that they are investigating the gunfight for which they are charged. Danilo Mandic only notified four hours after the shooting.
This is how they answered the newspaper's questions about why an investigation was not conducted at the scene where they were shot. Darko Perovic i Aris Turkovic.
Three days ago, the Police Department officially announced that the nephew of the Speaker of the Parliament Andrije Mandić is charged with attempted aggravated murder and that the shooting occurred at around 3.40:XNUMX a.m. on Ivana Crnojevića Boulevard in Podgorica.
"The Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica was initially notified of the event mentioned in your question, where you can inquire about the details of the event. At the same time, I would like to inform you that the Higher State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica was notified of the event in question much later than the event occurred, on 19 April 04 at 2025am," the answers from the State Prosecutor's Office headed by Beautiful Medenica.
"Vijesti" is also expecting answers from the Podgorica Basic State Prosecutor's Office (ODT).
The police told "Vijesti" the day before yesterday that the prosecutor's office was the first to be informed about the incident.
At the same time, they explained that they had conducted a forensic examination of the scene, adding that only the prosecutor can, according to the law, authorize police officers to conduct an investigation.
"The Basic State Prosecutor's Office was previously informed about the incident in question, and as information was collected in phases and facts were deduced about the circumstances and clarification of the events under which the criminal offense was committed, police officers conducted a forensic and technical examination of the scene on site, both locally and internationally, in accordance with professional rules, about which appropriate documentation was drawn up. Also, in separate procedural actions, as part of the investigation, a large number of video surveillance footage from the local and international scene was seized, which are an integral part of the evidence. Upon learning that the person DM was being linked to the criminal offense, police officers from the Podgorica Security Department issued a local search for the named person, or rather a search notice on suspicion that he committed the criminal offense of attempted aggravated murder," the newspaper was told by that institution.
The fact that an on-site investigation had not been conducted was first announced by Mandić's legal representative, lawyer Miroje Jovanović. He then said that there was no evidence against his client, that he was charged solely with statements from the injured parties, and that Mandić went to the Podgorica Security Department on his own initiative, after "a rather confusing street story emerged that he had allegedly participated in some incident."
Search for the wounded
Thirty-five-year-old Danilo Mandić is a judge Suzana Mugoša She ordered detention due to fear of flight and influence over witnesses.
The wounded Perović was supposed to be questioned at the State Prosecutor's Office yesterday, but he did not appear at the institution for the third day, which is why the prosecutor Jelena Protic ordered his forced arrival.
However, one of the witnesses was questioned, after which Mandić's legal representative, lawyer Miroje Jovanovic requested the disqualification of the plaintiff, stating that he was not notified of this action in a timely manner.
His request was denied.
In his appeal, the lawyer states that he doubts her impartiality due to specific actions "which led to a serious violation of the right to defense of the defendant and his defense attorney."
He explained that the prosecutor, with his consent, postponed the hearing until yesterday at 14 p.m., which is why he postponed his return to Belgrade, despite having purchased a ticket.
Later, he claims, he found messages and missed calls from the acting prosecutor, who informed him that the witness hearing was scheduled for 10.30:XNUMX a.m. after all.
"At 11.30:14.00, the defense attorney called the prosecutor, who told him that the hearing would be over soon. He expressed his disagreement for the following reasons: it was agreed that Perović's hearing would be held at XNUMX:XNUMX p.m., the prosecutor knew that the defense attorney was preparing an urgent appeal, the appeal was filed in a timely manner, with the defense attorney working all night, and the sudden introduction of a new hearing jeopardized the preparation for the already agreed action," Jovanović wrote.
He stated that such actions by Prosecutor Protić violated the defendant's right to a fair and just trial, guaranteed by Article 6 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
On April 19, at around 3.40:XNUMX a.m., citizens reported that near the intersection of Bulevar Ivana Crnojevića and Ulica Marka Miljanova, a conflict broke out between several people, one of whom used a firearm... According to unofficial information from "Vijesti", Perović told inspectors after his arrest that Danilo Mandić had wounded him.
Parliament remains silent
For the second day, the Parliament of Montenegro has not answered questions about their vehicle used by Mandić on the night of the attack.
The Range Rover jeep he was driving was temporarily seized from the accused of organized crime, and then the State Property Administration transferred it to the General Secretariat of the Parliament of Montenegro for use free of charge.
Such a possibility is provided for in the Law on the Confiscation of Proceeds of Crime, which, among other things, states that the competent authority may give temporarily seized movable property to a state administration authority for use, but only "if necessary for the purpose of protecting the safety of the person being protected in accordance with the regulation determining the persons, objects and premises secured by the police."
The key question is who within the Parliament abused their official position and gave the keys to that vehicle to Danilo Mandić, who is not an employee of the Police Directorate, nor does the Parliament have a security service that would deal with the protection and escort of the Speaker of the Parliament Andrija Mandić, but rather, according to the Government Decision on the Determination of Persons, Facilities and Spaces, he is secured by the police.
"The vehicle is not owned by the Police Directorate or the Ministry of Interior, but is owned and registered with the Parliament of Montenegro, and therefore this issue is not within the jurisdiction of the Police Directorate," the institution it manages stated. Lazar Scepanovic.
A guard on a government plane too
The head of the state parliament, Andrija Mandić, is guarded by the Police Directorate, in accordance with the Government's decision, so it is necessary to investigate how it is possible that the Sector for the Protection of Protected Persons and Facilities allowed his nephew, now a suspect, Danilo Mandić, to guard the head of the parliament, in parallel with police officers.
He was one of three civilians who provided security for the first man of the Parliament of Montenegro on an official trip to Belgrade, when they traveled on a government plane.
The politician traveled to the Serbian capital on March 28th of this year and returned the same day, and it is written that he was accompanied on that plane by Dejan Gojković, Mihailo Čađenović, Danilo Mandić and Damjan Damjanović.
The government document explains that all four are members of Mandić's security, but only Damjanović is listed as a member of the Police Directorate.
"Vijesti", however, did not answer on what basis the others traveled with Mandić on the state plane.
"Dejan Gojković, Mihailo Čađenović and Danilo Mandić have been the closest associates of the President of the Parliament of Montenegro for many years and accordingly have the right to be members of the delegation," it was written in the responses from the cabinet of the first man of the Parliament of Montenegro, submitted to "Vijesti" in early August 2024.
The Police Directorate never responded to questions about whether security protocols were followed in this case and whether civilians could "secure" Mandić on official trips.
"Vijesti" was then unofficially told that Mandić, as a protected person secured and protected by the state, could only be accompanied by police officers from the Special Purpose Police Sector.
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