"I did not organize or form a criminal group. I did not use the Skype application. This is all a game of individuals from the current government, the SPO and the police, those who got their hands on the chairs. All of this was invented and made up so that there would be media pressure and to create pressure. This is just another political game. They invented and brought in witnesses. Their only focus was to accuse me, to put pressure on me," said defendant Strahinja Koprivica in his defense today, before the Higher Court in Podgorica.
The trial against Strahinja Koprivica and the group began today before the Podgorica High Court.
In addition to the accused Strahinja Koprivica, an indictment was also filed against Igor Krstović, Blaž Đurković, Nikola Vukotić and Marinko Koprivica.
The other defendants also denied guilt and denied committing the crime.
The defendant Nikola Vukotić also denied guilt. He said in court that he could take a polygraph test for everything he said.
"As for drugs, I didn't participate in it for a single cent. As for my detention, I believe that they are holding me hostage so that they can do this to Strahinja. The prosecutor's office said that I should say something about Strahinja and that I would go home. And what should I say, I have nothing to say, should I lie? They offered me freedom in "Limenka", just to tell them something about Strahinja. They asked me to say what they told me. They asked me the same thing about Igor Krstović," Vukotić pointed out.
Defendant Igor Krstović said in his defense today that he does not know the defendants.
"I don't know these people. I know Strahinja from the newspapers and these others from the newspapers. I didn't use the SKY application. I don't have the strength to talk, I'm really sick and have health problems. I don't even have the strength to stand. I have no human right to seek treatment," said Krstović.
His defense attorney, Danilo Mićović, confirmed that Krstović's health condition is seriously endangered.
The accused Marinko Koprivica said that he did not belong to any criminal organization and that he did not use SKY and that he did not participate in smuggling.
The accused Blažo Đurković also pleaded not guilty before the court. He stated that he was pressured by police officers during his arrest. "They told me that it was up to me whether I would be free." He added that when he was in the SDT for questioning, he confirmed what they asked him and that when he signed the statement, they told him: "Happy freedom."
"A man in 'Limenko' asked me if I wanted to go home to look after my daughter or look after millions of Koprivica," Đurković said.
Lawyer Matija Bulatović requested that the court exclude Đurković's statement from the case file as invalid evidence. He pointed out that this statement is the result of extortion and pressure exerted on Đurković by police officers. He stated that today's defense of the accused Đurković is correct, lawyer Bulatović said that the evidence is also the fact that the accused is defending himself from freedom, while the other accused in these proceedings, who is charged with the same criminal offense, is in custody.
The Special State Prosecutor's Office has filed an indictment against Strahinja Koprivica, Igor Krstović, Blaž Đurković, Nikola Vukotić and Marinko Koprivica due to reasonable suspicion that they committed the criminal offense of creating a criminal organization.
Strahinja Koprivica, Đurković, Vukotić and Krstović were charged with the criminal offense of unauthorized production, possession and distribution of narcotic drugs. The indictment against Strahinja Koprivica and Marinko Koprivica was filed for two criminal offenses of smuggling, while Strahinja Koprivica was also charged with two criminal offenses of illicit trade.
Bonus video:
