MANS: We welcome the arrest of Golubović, launch an investigation into all suspicious money flows

The Network for the Affirmation of the Non-Governmental Sector (MANS) has welcomed the action of the authorities that resulted in the arrest of Duško Golubović on suspicion of money laundering. They say this is an important step towards clarifying the origin of his assets, which "has raised serious doubts about their legality for years."

MANS particularly emphasizes the need for the investigation to include all financial transactions that led to a "sudden and significant increase in Golubović's assets", including those that "took place through members of his family and which may raise suspicions of connections with state officials".

"One of the properties that the Golubović family purchased for cash in 2019 is a 46 square meter apartment in a building next to the Podgorica temple. This property was purchased by Duško Golubović's wife, Danijela, from the family of Valentina Pavličić, then the Representative of Montenegro before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, and now the President of the Supreme Court. According to the purchase agreement obtained by MANS, the apartment was paid for in cash at 50.000 euros," the NGO said.

They believe it is extremely important for the Special State Prosecutor's Office to determine the origin of the money used to purchase the property, and whether that transaction is "suspected of being used to launder money that Duško Golubović is suspected of having acquired illegally."

"The Pavlicic family acquired this property through compensation with the Podgorica-based company 'Bemax', in which Valentina Pavlicic's husband transferred ownership of the offshore company 'Blueray Limited', registered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - a well-known tax haven - to that company. As consideration for this transaction, the Pavlicic family received an apartment from 'Bemax', which was later sold to Danijela Golubovic in 2019. MANS specifically reported that Valentina Pavlicic never reported this business relationship with the company 'Bemax' to the relevant state institutions, even though this was her legal obligation as a public official," they added in the statement.

The research conducted by MANS, they point out, found that over a period of eight years, ownership of the apartment changed six times "through various compensation arrangements", which "further increases suspicion about the legality of this business chain and the true nature of the transaction itself".

"As MANS has previously documented, the Golubović family has become the owner of property worth at least one million euros, including luxury apartments and expensive vehicles, although there is no publicly available data that would explain the origin of these funds. When asked by MANS, Duško Golubović previously stated that he acquired all the property legally, and that it was the result of a joint investment by his family. He also stated that he acquired part of the property by 'mining bitcoins in Belgrade', without providing evidence to support these claims," ​​MANS said.

In January last year, the NGO submitted the complete documentation it obtained during its investigation to the Special State Prosecutor's Office, with a request to launch a "comprehensive investigation into possible money laundering and other criminal acts."

"In order to preserve the rule of law and strengthen citizens' trust in institutions, MANS calls on the Special State Prosecutor's Office to urgently launch an investigation into all suspicious money flows and potential abuses of official positions. The case of Duško Golubović must not remain an isolated incident, but must represent the beginning of a comprehensive crackdown on networks that have been operating above the law for years, with active support from the institutions of the system," MANS announced.