Former President of the Supreme Court Vesna Medenica she was released from the Risan hospital and is under house arrest, it was confirmed to "Vijesta" from several sources.
According to the same information, she was discharged from hospital treatment on September 12, two days earlier than predicted by the medical expert. dr Miodrag Šoć.
"According to what Dr. Šoć said in the courtroom, the treatment was supposed to last until September 14, but Medenica was discharged from the hospital on Friday morning (September 12), and the doctor stated that her health condition was good. According to checks carried out by the police that same night, the defendant was complying with the house arrest measure, that is, she was found at the address," said the interlocutor of "Vijesti".
Accused of membership in a criminal group that, according to the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT), was formed by her son Milos Medenica, was admitted to the hospital the night before the main trial scheduled for September 1st, although she received a referral for physical therapy on August 13th.
After being the president of the special council, a judge Vesna Kovačević, that day ordered that an expert witness examine the defendant and the medical documentation at the hospital, Dr. Šoć stated before the court the next day that Medenica's health condition was not good, that she had problems with her spine, and that due to the extent of her illness, it was justified for her to be receiving treatment in Risan and therapy there.
"The treatment will last 15 days and includes physical therapy in the hospital. After that, she will be able to attend the trial with the use of therapy," Šoć said on September 2.
That day, Judge Kovačević ordered her to be placed under house arrest, explaining that the supervision measure was scheduled to begin after Medenica completed fifteen days of physical therapy at the hospital in Risan.
"The imposed supervision measure may last until the verdict becomes final... Medenica can only leave the apartment she lives in with the permission of the court and under police supervision," explained Judge Kovačević at the time.
She explained that Medenica was placed under house arrest "due to obstruction and delay of proceedings, all due to the expiration of her son Miloš's detention."
Judge Kovačević's special panel suspects that Medenica, by going to the hospital in Risan on August 31, just one day before the scheduled trial on September 1, obstructed the continuation of the trial in order to help her son Miloš, whose detention expires on October 17, because then it will be three years since the indictment was filed without a first-instance verdict being issued. Thus, in the courtroom of the Higher Court at the beginning of September, Judge Kovačević assessed Medenica's absence from the previously scheduled main trial hearings from September 1 to 5.
She also said in the courtroom that the three-member panel of judges had rejected the special prosecutor's proposal by a majority vote. Vukas Radonjić to return the former head of the Montenegrin judiciary to the Spuž Remand Prison.
Prosecutor Radonjić proposed this measure because Medenica failed to appear at the trial on September 1 of the criminal group that, according to the SDT, was formed by her son Miloš.
The Special State Prosecutor's Office charges Vesna Medenica and her son Miloš with multiple criminal offenses, and the indictment against them was filed in October 2022.
Included in the indictment are: Marko Vučinić, police officers Darko Lalović i Milorad Medenica, customs officers Ivana Kovačević i Goran Jovanovic, a judge Milica Vlahović-Milosavljević, Vasilije Petrović, Bojan i Marko Popovic, Port of Bakoč, Petar Milutinovic, Radomir Raičević, Marjan Bevenja, Stevo Karanikic, Nikola Raičević and the company "Kopad Company" from Nikšić...
The SDT charges individuals in that organization with cigarette and drug smuggling, unlawful influence over the judiciary, creation of a criminal organization, smuggling, giving and receiving bribes and unlawful influence and incitement to unlawful influence, abuse of official position, unlawful possession of weapons, causing grievous bodily harm, and obstruction of evidence.
American sanctions
The State Department designated the former President of the Supreme Court of Montenegro Vesna Medenica and the former mayor of Budva and MP four days ago. Milo Božović as generally ineligible for entry into the United States “due to their involvement in significant corruption that facilitated drug trafficking.”
As announced by the State Department, Božović abused his public office to support organized crime and international drug trafficking operations.
"In particular, Medenica abused her public office by providing support to a criminal smuggling organization - by leaking judicial information, mediating in court decisions, and accepting bribes in the form of money and real estate to influence court verdicts," the statement reads.
"These designations reaffirm the United States' commitment to combating the illegal drug trade, transnational criminal organizations, and corruption that threaten U.S. security interests in the Western Balkans and beyond," the statement reads.
It was clarified that the designations publicly announced by the Department of State were made pursuant to a section of the Appropriations Act for the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs for fiscal year 2024, as extended by the Continuing Appropriations Act.
The State Department also designates members of the immediate family of Božović and Medenica as generally ineligible for entry into the United States.
Separate proceedings for abuse of official position
In relation to Medenica and Commercial Court judge Vlahović-Milosavljević, the proceedings were separated and the trial resumed in early June.
They are charged with the criminal offense of abuse of office. Vlahović-Milosavljević is accused of having illegally issued a decision adopting a proposal for the determination of a temporary security measure to secure a monetary claim by the proposer, Rade Arsić.
The indictment states that Medenica, as the President of the Supreme Court of Montenegro, by abusing her official position through incitement, allegedly influenced the judge of the Commercial Court Vlahović-Milosavljević to make a decision in a case in favor of her godfather, Rade Arsić.
Both denied guilt.
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