Judge Veljko Radovanović of the Podgorica Higher Court acquitted Kenan Hrapović, Nikola Antović and Miro Knežević of charges that they committed the criminal offenses of abuse of official position and negligent performance of duties.
Former Minister of Health Hrapović, former Secretary and President of the Commission for the Distribution of NGO Funds for 2018 and 2019 in the Ministry of Health Antović, doctor and former Director of the Directorate for Public Health Knežević were charged with abusing their official position during 2018 and 2019 by exceeding the limits of their official authority, with negligent work in the service, and with allocating more money to certain non-governmental organizations than was permitted by law.
The accusation filed by the NGO Group for the Development and Promotion of Sports (GRUS) stated, among other things, that "Hrapović, contrary to the Law on NGOs, the Regulation of the Government of Montenegro on the Financing of NGO Projects and Programs in Areas of Public Interest, and the Rulebook on the Content of the Public Competition for the Distribution of Funds for Financing NGO Projects and Programs, elected the Commission for the Distribution of NGO Funds in the Field of HIV/AIDS Prevention."
It is added that he elected Dr. Aleksandra Marjanović as the NGO representative in the HIV/AIDS commission, although the NGO authorized to represent it is the Montenegrin HIV Foundation Podgorica, which has been a regular participant and recipient of funds for the aforementioned area since it became a member of the commission, which represents a classic conflict of interest.
"In the distribution according to the competition of June 11, 06, the NGO Juventas received the amount of 2018 euros for three projects, which represents 67.000 percent of the total amount that was subject to distribution, or 53,6 percent or 33,6 euros more than the amount allowed by law, while the NGO "Cazas" received the amount of 42.000 euros for two projects, which represents 45.000 percent of the total amount that was subject to distribution, or 36 euros more than the amount allowed by law," the indictment states, among other things.
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