Assistant Commander for Public Order and Peace of the Security Department Bar Lazar Cakovic He was caught in late September driving a company vehicle, with a service pistol and ID, even though he is currently serving a prison sentence for abuse. At the same time, the Bar police chief, according to sources, is not coming to work because he is - on sick leave.
In an interview with a journalist from "Vijesti", Caković did not want to answer questions regarding the case.
According to several eyewitnesses, Caković was stopped in Bar on September 29 during a traffic control while driving a Mercedes with the license plate PG CG 503 with a pistol. The interlocutors claim that Caković initially refused to stop, and then refused to be ordered by his colleagues to open his bag, which supposedly contained his service pistol and ID. After the duty officer and the riot police arrived at the scene, Caković was allegedly told that he was free. Official notes were also made about the incident, sources claim.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) did not respond to "Vijesti"'s questions regarding the status of Caković, who, according to unofficial information, has never been disciplined, nor has his employment been terminated, even though he was convicted of abuse he committed in his capacity as a police officer. On the contrary, after his conviction, a year ago, Caković was awarded as the best officer in the public order and peace sector.
Colleagues stopped him, superiors let him go?
According to unofficial information from "Vijesti", Caković has been serving a five-month prison sentence for about a month now, in the premises where he lives.
His colleagues from the border police sector were checking several construction sites in the Ilin area on September 29, when they, among others, tried to stop a black Mercedes. Eyewitnesses claim that the driver of the Mercedes initially tried to avoid stopping. It then turned out that the vehicle was being driven by Caković, who allegedly told his colleagues that he did not have any documents with him.
The interlocutors claim that he was allegedly in an official vehicle and that he had an official pistol and ID in his bag, and an electronic anklet on his right leg. However, they claim that he refused to open the bag. Not long after, eyewitnesses say, one of the Bar Police Department officers and the riot police arrived at the scene, but neither the vehicle nor the bag were searched, and Caković was allowed to continue his journey, accompanied by a police officer.
Sources say that NN officials informed the head of the Regional Security Center South before this unusual event. Petar Rolović about the fact that Caković is serving a prison sentence, while his employer also records him as temporarily unable to work, or on sick leave. They claim that no one reacted to this fact.
"Vijesti" asked the Ministry of the Interior to submit an official note relating to the incident when Caković was found in a company car with a pistol, and the department Danilo Saranovic The editorial team also asked whether disciplinary proceedings had previously been initiated against Caković and whether his employment and legal status had been considered after the conviction became final.
"Vijesti" also asked the Ministry of Interior whether it was true that Caković was currently serving a prison sentence in the premises where he lives, and that he was also registered with his employer as temporarily unable to work, and whether he had returned his official ID, badge, weapon and other equipment and resources for performing police duties.
Sentenced to five months in prison
According to the final verdict of the Ulcinj Basic Court, on August 10, 2022, at the police station in that municipality, Caković, aware of his act, the execution of which he wanted to commit, although he knew that it was prohibited, as a police officer in the performance of his duties, abused the injured party KP. The publicly released verdict states that Caković hit the injured party, who had previously been detained for disturbing public order and who was sitting on duty, several times with a closed fist in the head and body area, and then with his foot, at the moment when two colleagues removed him from the injured party.
According to the verdict, Caković was sentenced to five months in prison, and the court also ordered that the sentence be served in the premises where he lives.
"The defendant may not leave the premises in which he resides, except in cases prescribed by law governing the execution of criminal sanctions. If the defendant arbitrarily leaves the premises in which he resides once for a period of more than six hours or twice for a period of up to six hours, the court shall order that he serve the remainder of his prison sentence in the Institution for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions," the verdict states.
According to the Law on Internal Affairs, a police officer will be temporarily suspended from work if he is found to be in the performance of a serious violation of official duty for which the mandatory termination of employment is prescribed, until the completion of disciplinary proceedings, for the duration of detention, or if criminal proceedings have been initiated against him for a criminal offense with elements of corruption or a criminal offense committed at work or in connection with work, until the completion of the criminal proceedings.
A police officer may be temporarily suspended from work even when criminal proceedings have been initiated against him for a criminal offense prosecuted ex officio or disciplinary proceedings for a serious breach of official duty, if his presence at work would harm the interests or reputation of the Ministry and the Police or obstruct the course of disciplinary proceedings.
A police officer may be temporarily suspended from work even before the initiation of criminal proceedings when an order has been issued to conduct an investigation against him for a criminal offense for which he is being prosecuted ex officio if his presence at work would harm the interests or reputation of the Ministry and the Police.
"A police officer who is temporarily suspended from work shall have his official badge, official identification card, weapons and other equipment entrusted to him for the performance of his duties confiscated while the temporary suspension lasts," the law states.
The law also provides for situations in which termination of employment may be imposed, including if the commission determines safety concerns. These concerns include the existence of a final judgment for criminal offenses that are prosecuted ex officio, except for those against public transport safety, which are punishable by up to three years in prison.
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