Detention of Čedomir Popović terminated

The detention of businessman Čedomir Čed Popović has been lifted.

His lawyer Dražen Medojević told the RTCG portal that his client's detention was lifted today at around 16 p.m.

Popović was sent to the Supša Remand Prison on March 26th on suspicion of filling beaches in Kumbor and Baošići without a building permit.

The Secretary for Urban Planning and Construction Inspection of the Municipality of Herceg Novi, Vladislav Velaš, and Popović were arrested on March 23 for illegal construction in Baošići. Velaš, who is suspected of abuse of office, was released from custody after being questioned by the prosecutor's office to defend himself, while Popović was ordered detained.

The decision to send Popović to pretrial detention was made by the investigative judge of the Basic Court in Herceg Novi, Vesna Gazdić, who ordered the detention due to the risk that if he were released, he would repeat the criminal offense of building a building without reporting documentation under Article 326 in conjunction with Article 49, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro.

"...That is, due to the existence of circumstances that clearly indicate the risk of a repeat of the criminal offense. The work in question is the execution of works at the Kumbor and Baošići locations, as well as the execution of works on filling the beach in Baošići," the court statement stated at the time.

It was explained that when ordering detention, the investigating judge took into account that one of the locations (the beach) represents a cultural asset and is an integral part of the protected environment of the natural and cultural historical area of ​​Kotor, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, as stated in a decision of the Directorate for the Protection of Cultural Assets, PJ Kotor.

"The decision of the Administration for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, Kotor Branch, dated February 11, 2026, ordered the suspension of works at this location until a legal and professional basis for their implementation was obtained, and it was stated that it was necessary to obtain conservation conditions, develop a conservation project and register the works, and the decision of the same administration dated February 16, 2026 ordered the restoration to its original state," the statement said.

It was also added that the Administration for the Protection of Cultural Heritage has prescribed conservation conditions for the purposes of developing Urban and Technical Conditions for the development of a part of the coast in Baošići at the location in question.

"...Among other things: preserve the values ​​and characteristics of the original coastal layout with the characteristic system of piers, mandrači and bathing areas without changing the inherited coastline; preserve the architectural heritage along the entire coastline with the associated piers and mandrači and the Mediterranean vegetation that accompanies them, retain all natural pebble bathing areas, do not convert them into concrete artificial bathing areas, carry out the work using traditional materials, local stone and apply traditional processing and installation techniques, etc., for which, according to the state of the case files, there is a reasonable suspicion that the suspect did not comply and that the work continued to be carried out despite the ban," the statement said.

Popović is also suspected of ignoring the construction bans of the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property for a long period of time, thus demonstrating continuity and persistence, since the works carried out at the construction sites in Kumbor and Baošići were not one-off activities, but continued for a long period of time even after the bans were issued.

"The court appreciated the fact that the ban on construction at one location, in accordance with the decision of the urban planning and construction inspection, has been in effect since October 01, 2024, and that the aforementioned ban has been in effect since that date to this day. It was also appreciated that the suspect has a strong financial motive to continue carrying out work at the locations in question, especially given the fact that, according to the suspect himself, most of the hotel has been sold out, that the value of the investment is 80 million euros, and that the deadline for completing the work is by the end of June 2026, when the hotel is planned to open and receive guests," the statement reads.

The Basic Court in Herceg Novi said that all the above facts in their entirety represent sufficient and concrete reasons for issuing a decision ordering detention.

"We note that the aforementioned decision is not final and that the suspect and his defense attorneys may file an appeal against the decision of the investigating judge ordering detention within 24 hours of receiving it, to the panel of this court, which appeal does not postpone the execution of the decision," the court said.