Journalist for "Vijesti", Jelena Jovanovic, will be questioned today as a suspect, following a report previously filed by the former director of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (ASK). Jelena Perović.
Jelena Perović, accused of unlawful use of official position and causing damage to the state of Montenegro, filed a complaint claiming that the articles published by "Vijesti" in November 2023, authored by Jovanović, "violated the confidentiality of the proceedings."
"Vijesti" then announced that the former president of the Basic Court in Cetinje had, at one time, sought and received suggestions from, contrary to regulations. Vesne Medenica how to proceed in individual cases, as stated in the transcripts of their conversations, which are part of a case against the former president of the Supreme Court.
It follows from the document she submitted that what bothered her most was the revelation that she regretted the arrest of the former bodyguard of the former President of the Supreme Court, Darka Lalevića.
Also, in her application, she questioned the fact that it was reported that she had been consulted about the transition from a judge to the position of director of ASK.
Despite their clearly defined mutual relations in the positions they held, Perović consulted with the then head of the judiciary during 2020 about whether to order or lift someone's detention, but also apologized for not accepting her plea agreement in one case, and informed her about who had applied for which positions in the judiciary...
It was also reported that Perović offered to Medenica that the presidents of all courts convene a press conference "to put an end to these attacks."
It can be seen from their correspondence that Perović initiated numerous correspondences about certain subjects, which Medenica also did in some cases. The messages also show that she remained loyal to her after she became the head of the Agency, after consulting with Medenica.
From the position of ASK director, she took care of the interest of Medenica, in the proceedings initiated against that Agency due to the decision not to prosecute the former president of the Supreme Court due to non-exemption in the selection of candidates for judges of basic courts.
Also, in December 2020, Perović wrote to the newly retired President of the Supreme Court that she regretted the arrest of her long-time bodyguard, police officer Darko Lalević, who is also charged with aiding the criminal group responsible for the attempted murder of the journalist. Oliver Lakic.
Lalović was arrested on December 15, 2020, on the charge of providing information from the case against a criminal group that tried to kill an investigative journalist.
A day later, Perović writes to Medenica that he regrets the arrest:
"What you are doing? I'm reading this and I can't believe it. Just to see how you are? I am in Egypt for two more days", writes Perović.
He gets a reply from Medenica that everything is oversized:
“How I am, like a jerk. I feel sorry for him because he was like a member of the family. It's all oversized. That Rakočević is his godfather".
The director of ASK tells her to hold on:
“Uh, terrible. Hang in there. Now they need news like this, it's the worst".
To that he gets the answer that it is done to cover up the real criminals.
"In order to hide and put real criminals in the background", states Medenica, who until just a few days earlier held the most important function in the Montenegrin judiciary.
“That's right. But what is it, there it is. I'm really sorry for him, and most of all for you," Perović tells Medenica.
From the multitude of exchanged messages, it is clear that Perović reported to Medenica even after the former first lady of the Montenegrin judiciary retired, but also that, after leaving the Cetinje court, she communicated with her about cases pending before the Basic Court in Cetinje and announced that she would "speed them up"...
Perović, then, answering a set of questions, wrote to "Vijesti" that she did not accept being part of the media circus:
"I do not accept to be part of the media circus and comment on alleged transcripts of messages, the authenticity of which no one has confirmed and cannot confirm, and for which there is a well-founded suspicion that they were obtained and forwarded to you in an illegal manner".
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