"If I had known, I would have paid the bill": Đorđije Goranović testifies in the continuation of the trial of former minister Milutin Simović

"I would have paid that bill if I had known it would result in criminal prosecution," said the owner of the "Goranović" meat industry yesterday. Đorđije Goranović, testifying in the continuation of the trial of the former Minister of Agriculture Milutin Simović, accused of abuse of official position.

Goranović spoke before the Podgorica Higher Court about the meeting with Simović at the "Gustibus" restaurant in Tivat, stating that he came to the meeting from Herceg Novi and that it was a business conversation about problems in the agro-industry.

"I am very sorry and sorry that I did not pay for that dinner, because if I had known that it would result in criminal prosecution, I would have paid for it, I am in good financial standing," said Goranović.

He said that, while he was Minister of Agriculture, he had several meetings with Simović that related to the development of the agro-industry, and that representatives of that sector, as he stated, "always had an open door" to the then minister.

Speaking about the specific meeting in Tivat, Goranović said that he remembers eating fish, because, as he explained, he has been on a special diet for years.

"I know it was Saturday. I was in Herceg Novi on business and came to Tivat at Simović's invitation," said Goranović.

He explained that the reason for the meeting was that Simović, according to him, had several scheduled visits to farmers in Nikšić, so he wanted to get information and suggestions from him about what the "pressing problems of the agro-industry" were.

"I did not know that Simovic was staying at the 'Čedi' hotel," Goranovic said.

He added that it is common for business meetings to be held in restaurants.

"I've been in business for thirty years and I've had 50 percent of my meetings in a bar," he said.

Simović is on trial under the indictment of the Special State Prosecutor's Office, which charges him with having, from June 2017 to August 2020, as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, unlawfully abused his official position and obtained material gain for himself. According to an earlier statement by the SDT, he allegedly stayed in hotels alone, with his wife, family members or people close to him, and consumed food and drinks in restaurants, including on weekends, and submitted the bills to the Ministry's treasury, although, as the prosecution claims, these were not expenses related to official duties.

The former mayor of Nikšić also testified before the court yesterday. Veselin Grbović, who spoke about a meeting held at the “Onogošt” hotel in Nikšić in March 2018.

Grbović said that he was the president of the Municipality of Nikšić at the time and that he met with Simović and the farmers.

"At the 'Onogošt' hotel in Nikšić in March 2018, I had a meeting with Milutin Simović, the best minister I have ever worked with," said Grbović.

He stated that he did not remember all the details, but that the topic was agriculture and the problems of Nikšić villages, especially those that were without water.

"Milutin was full of ideas, especially for these northern Nikšić municipalities that were without water," said Grbović.

According to him, during his term he had 10 to 15 meetings with Simović, mostly in Nikšić, and the topic was how to help rural areas.

When asked about consumption at the hotel, he said he remembered coffee and possibly beer, but that he did not remember other details.

Grbović stressed that the meeting had nothing to do with the elections.

"This meeting had nothing to do with the elections and I don't remember if there were presidential elections in 2018," he said.

He also said that he was a member of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), but that he was elected mayor of Nikšić because of his expertise.

The owner of the Cetinje-based company "Martex" also testified. Dragan Martinovic, who spoke about a meeting with Simović at the “Demižana” restaurant in Budva.

Martinović said that the topic of that meeting was the geographical protection of prosciutto, because at that time there were two clusters - Montenegrin and Njeguška prosciutto.

"We called the minister to help with that," said Martinović.

He stated that it is possible that he ate a fish menu and drank a glass of wine at that meeting, and that he did not pay the bill.

"The meeting was in the afternoon, after working hours, and lasted maybe half an hour, 40 minutes," said Martinović.

He added that Simović did not tell him why he was in Budva.

A farmer was also heard as a witness. Ljubo Mitrovic, who said that he had a goat farm in the village of Sotonići in Crmnica and that he met with Simović at his own request to discuss his farm.

"I was supposed to pay for all these lunches," Mitrović said.

He stated that the meeting was held at the "Izvor" restaurant in Reževići, on Sunday around 15 p.m., and that it lasted no more than an hour.

"There was someone else with Simović, and I was alone," Mitrović said.

He said that he had seen Simović before and that, as he stated, he had helped him a lot with the goat farm.

"I want it to be known that I will always say the best about Simović. If they were smart, they would return him to office," Mitrović said.

The court issued an order yesterday to forcibly bring in witnesses. Darko Radunović, who did not appear at the hearing, although there is a return receipt stating that his wife received the summons.