Katnić and Čađenović are on trial for "pressuring" Assad

A main hearing has been scheduled at the Higher Court in Podgorica, which has begun criminal proceedings against former Chief Special Prosecutor Milivoj Katnić and his colleague Saša Čašenović, for "pressing" Joseph Assad to make a statement in the "coup d'état" case that suits them.

This was announced by the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT), which explained that the judge of the Special Department of the High Court, after preliminary questioning, scheduled the main hearing and sent summonses to the parties.

"This is how the criminal proceedings began against the defendants MK, former Chief Special Prosecutor and Head of the Special State Prosecutor's Office, and S. Č., a special prosecutor in that prosecutor's office, now removed from duty due to conducting another criminal proceeding, based on the indictment proposal of the Special State Prosecutor's Office, filed because there is a reasonable suspicion that, as co-perpetrators, they committed the extended criminal offense of abuse of official position and the criminal offense of unlawful influence," the SDT said.

They recalled that the subject of the indictment in the criminal proceedings is the joint decision of the defendants to reach an agreement with the legal representative of Joseph Assad, a citizen of the United States of America, to come to Montenegro and tell him what they say in the proceedings against the leaders of the then opposition, Andrija Mandić and Milan Knežević, as well as others accused of terrorism in the attempt on the day of parliamentary elections in 2016.

They explained that the then SDT and Čađenović initiated criminal proceedings against Assad for the criminal offenses of creating a criminal organization and attempted terrorism through aiding and abetting.

They point out that Katnić and Čađenović demanded from Asad's defense attorney that the US citizen come to Montenegro and confirm the allegations in their indictment, and in return, they withdraw the international arrest warrant and suspend the proceedings.

"... That Dž. A. comes to Montenegro, testifies in the manner requested by the defendants in the proceedings before the High Court in Podgorica, against the defendants AM and MK, leaders of the political alliance DF and other persons, for the criminal offenses of creating a criminal organization, terrorism in an attempt and preparation of acts against the constitutional order and security of Montenegro through incitement, and confirms the allegations of the indictment of the Special State Prosecutor's Office against them, which was represented by the defendants, and in return, that the national and international arrest warrant against him be withdrawn, that he not be deprived of his liberty and placed in detention, and that the criminal proceedings against him be suspended," the SDT announced.

On March 31, an indictment was filed against Katnić and Čađenović on suspicion that, as co-perpetrators, they abused their official position by "pressuring" Assad to make a statement that suited them in the "coup d'état" proceedings.