The Higher Court in Podgorica has handed down a guilty verdict against Turkish national Erkan Ozmen, who was sentenced in the first instance to three years in prison for the extended criminal offense of money laundering.
Ozmen's detention was extended.
The court fully accepted the allegations in the indictment of the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT), and the property that was seized was estimated at 1,2 million euros.
During the proceedings, his 98-square-meter apartment, two garage spaces, and four luxury cars were confiscated - a Porsche Cayenne, a Mercedes AMG, a Lamborghini Aventador, and a Range Rover...
Money worth 38.000 euros was also seized from the Turkish citizen.
He was also sentenced to 10 years of expulsion from Montenegro.
According to the SDT indictment, the suspect purchased luxury cars and real estate in Podgorica from 2023 to early 2025, presenting the money of unknown origin as legally acquired. The indictment states that the purchases were made in cash, and include high-end vehicles and apartments in the capital.
The prosecution claims that by these actions the accused attempted to legalize funds obtained illegally. The accused is in custody, while other proceedings are being conducted against him abroad for similar criminal offenses.
The prosecution claims that by these actions the accused attempted to legalize funds obtained illegally. The accused is in custody, while other proceedings are being conducted against him abroad for similar criminal offenses. He has offered bail three times so far, which the court has rejected. The last time his fiancée offered 700.000 euros.
The Higher Court in Podgorica announced that the verdict in the case against Ozmen was announced today, and that he was found guilty of the continued criminal offense of money laundering under Article 268, paragraph 3 in conjunction with paragraph 1 in conjunction with Article 49 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro.
"The court has undoubtedly established, based on the evidence presented, that the accused purchased the properties in question in Podgorica - two apartments and two garages, and four expensive cars - with cash derived from criminal activity," the Higher Court states.
Based on Article 113, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro, the accused Erkan Ozmen is obliged to pay the amount of 119.000 euros to the Budget of Montenegro, which corresponds to the material gain obtained through the criminal offense.
"The court also imposed a security measure on the defendant - expulsion of a foreigner for a period of 10 years, with the proviso that the time spent serving the prison sentence is not included in the duration of this measure," the statement reads.
In July last year, "Vijesti" published data obtained by the Network for the Affirmation of the Non-Governmental Sector (MANS), stating that Luka Golubović, the son of retired National Security Agency and Police Administration officer Duško Golubović, sold an apartment and two garage spaces in Podgorica's Siti Kvart to Ozmen for 375.000 euros at the end of 2023. The entire amount was paid to him in cash on November 9, 2023, when the purchase and sale contract was concluded.
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