The trial of former director of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (ASK) Jelena Perović and her assistant Nina Paović continued today at the Higher Court in Podgorica with witness hearings. They are accused of abuse of official position and forgery of an official document.
Witness Stefan Radunović said today, before Judge Simo Rašović, that during the hearing at the prosecution, as far as he remembers, he was asked about variable payments and overtime work.
"I did not work overtime, nor were decisions made to pay for work. Variables were obtained when an increased volume of work was performed. I do not know whether Jelena Perović worked on public holidays. I do not know anything about Jelena Perović's official trips. I do not know that she met with any whistleblower outside Montenegro. That is not in my job description. I do not know whether she gave mobile phones owned by ASK to anyone who is not an ASK employee," said Radunović, answering Rašović's questions.
In his free statement before the court, he stated:
"At the prosecutor's office, during the hearing, I said that I did not work overtime. I received variables occasionally. There is a procedure in ASK, but I do not know the content. I worked as an advisor for conflicts of interest and asset verification. I was a member of the 2020 working group, on the tasks of determining the list of public officials. I was assigned to three municipalities."
Responding to questions from Special Prosecutor Jovan Vukotic, the witness said that as a team he submitted a final report, which is available on the ASK website.
"I didn't have overtime. I didn't ask for variables, but they were paid to me," he said.
"We have a continuous large number of cases. In the period from 2016 to 2020, we had more cases in progress. I assume that the election processes in Montenegro have influenced us to have more cases, but I don't know for sure," answered the question of defense attorney Jelena Perović, attorney Nikola Martinović.
"I am not aware that Nikola Lekić performed any duties in the sector where I was the chief," the witness said when asked by special prosecutor Maja Janković.
"During the period when the director of ASK was Jelena Perović, there were 8.000 public officials, and now there are around 5.000. These are approximate figures," the witness answered a question from the accused Nina Paović.
Bonus video:
