The trial of Vaso Ulić and other defendants for participating in the smuggling of two and a half tons of cocaine continued today at the Higher Court in Podgorica before a special panel of judge Nada Rabrenović.
Defendant Nikola Ulić said in his defense that he was not guilty of the crimes he was accused of.
"I will present my defense and will not answer questions from the SDT and the court, but I will answer questions from the defense attorneys and the accused. I am a family man, married and the father of three children. I live in a family home with my father, mother and sister. I have read the indictment and understand it, but I do not understand how I ended up in it. I am not a member of a criminal organization, nor did I have an encrypted phone, as stated in the indictment, and I will prove that in the rest of the proceedings," said Ulić.
He added that he does not want to comment on the "Anom" application and messages, because he believes they are invalid and that they constitute legally invalid evidence.
"If he does not separate, I will point out the illogicalities and contradictions in the continuation of the proceedings. I am convinced that the panel will judge according to the evidence. Due to the assumptions in the indictment, I have been separated from my family for this long," he stressed.
The accused Viktor Dresaj gave his defense and denied guilt.
"I completely deny the crime I am charged with. I am not a member of a criminal organization, I did not use an encrypted phone, and I have no connection to the drugs I am charged with. I have never dealt in drugs, nor have I bought, sold, or organized any of the crimes I am charged with. I do not know any of the defendants except my brother Leon Drešaj."
Defendant Slobodan Kašćelan denied that he organized a criminal organization with Radoje Zvicer and Vaso Ulic.
"I plead not guilty, I have nothing to do with this, I have nothing to defend myself against, but I will present my defense. I did not use that phone, nor is it mine. That encrypted phone mentioned in the indictment is not mine. Who knows who used it and who is using it. I have nothing more to say," said Kašćelan.
He added that he did not know Vaso Ulic, but he did know Radoje Zvicer.
The judge read his defense that he gave during the prosecutor's investigation.
"I am not a member of a criminal organization and none of what you have read is true. There are seven cases against me and I no longer have the nerve to listen to what I am accused of. I know Zvicer from the settlement, but we were not in joint business. I was at his wedding, but I have not seen him for a long time, since he is on the run. I have never seen Vulević. I know Dragan Pavlićević from Kotor, as well as Dobriša. I only know Božović from prison. I have never seen Miranović and Lambolić nor did I know about them. No meetings were ever held at my place, nor did Vaso Ulić come to my place. I never agreed with Zvicer about cocaine smuggling. I did not participate in the purchase of a boat or fishing boat for the purposes of cocaine smuggling. I have nothing to do with any of the messages attributed to me," his statement reads.
Responding to questions from special prosecutor Sanja Jovićević about whether he knew certain PINs and skype communications, he said: "How can I know those PINs when I have never used an encrypted phone."
He said that the nicknames "Renc" and "Okac", which are mentioned in SKY communications, were not familiar to him and that he had never handed over money to any of the defendants.
The accused Veselin Pavličić said that he did not admit to committing the crime.
"First of all, I would say that the indictment is incorrect in relation to my place of residence. I was born in Gorica near Danilovgrad, but I live on Svetog Petra Cetinjskog Street in Podgorica. It is true that I have a family home in Gorica and that I visit it. I deny any connection to the criminal offense for which I am charged. I am not, and will never be, a member of a criminal organization. I am not associated with drug trafficking crimes. I have never had an encrypted phone. I could barely manage with a regular phone, let alone a smart phone," said Pavličić.
He added that the indictment is based solely on Sky Communications, stressing that the original material has not been provided to either the court or the defense. He stated that he has been in custody for 17 months and requested that his detention be terminated and that some alternative measures be imposed.
The trial continues on January 12.
The indictment of the Special State Prosecutor's Office includes the following defendants: Radoje Zvicer, Vaso Ulić, Slobodan Kašćelan, Ulić's son, Nikola Ulić, Vukan Čoković Matić, Viktor Drešaj, Radomir Dobriša, Petar Miranović, Marinko Prelević, Veselin Paro Pavličić and Mileta Božović, as well as Vuk Vulević, Radule Božović, Ivan Delić, Leon Drešaj, Dragan Pavličević, former president of the Municipality of Budva Milo Božović, Damir Mandić, Vjekoslav Lambulić and Radovan Pantović.
They are accused of organizing a group and smuggling cocaine from South America to Europe and Australia.
Bonus video:
