The Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT) asked the Montenegrin Electric Distribution System (CEDIS) to submit a statement regarding the negative report of the State Audit Institution (DRI) for the year 2022, in which it is stated that the company did not operate according to regulations.
Executive Director of CEDIS Vladimir Čađenović, "Vijesta" confirmed yesterday that they received a request from SDT regarding the statement.
The SAI gave two negative opinions after the audit of the annual financial operations of CEDIS in 2022 was completed, namely on the financial operations and on the regularity audit. The audit was led by a senator Zoran Jelic, while the other member of the collegium was a senator Milan Dabović.
All findings of the SAI in which a negative opinion was given are sent to the prosecution in accordance with the protocol previously signed between the SAI and the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office. The task of the prosecution is to determine whether there are grounds for a criminal offense.
"Vijesta" is the state prosecutor and spokesperson of SDT Vukas Radonjic yesterday officially said that on February 19, the SAI submitted to them a report on the audit of the annual financial report of CEDIS for the year 2022, according to which a criminal case was formed and the investigation is ongoing.
"I hope that the competent Parliamentary Committee for the Economy will schedule a control hearing when it comes to the SAI report because we have irrefutable evidence that this finding is the result of obstruction in order to produce two negative opinions and publicly present something that does not stand," he said. Čađenović.
When it comes to the financial part of the audit, as stated by Čađenović, they have two recommendations - one relates to property, which is not a recommendation because it states that we are working on solving property issues and that process has been going on for many years.
"We will support that with evidence. According to the standards and methodology of SAI, one recommendation could not be given a negative opinion, which is why they gave a second recommendation to give a negative opinion on the financial part of the audit. When it comes to the audit of business regularity, they gave 10 recommendations that are certainly not a reason for a negative opinion," claims Čađenović.
He emphasized that they have reasonable doubts that behind the two negative opinions are the political motives of Jelic, who was in charge of this audit.
"He is known to have acted on the orders of his former party, and I believe that the connection between DPS and Jelic has never ended. We will send our detailed and very professional statement to the competent prosecution in relation to what was the subject of the SAI report, so we will see in relation to whom the prosecution should act - whether in relation to the one who performed the audit or who was the subject of the audit ", said Čađenović.
Through the financial audit, the SAI determined, among other things, that the company does not have documentation regarding the part of its assets related to land and construction facilities, the value of which is EUR 5,6 million and which was not declared as a founding contribution.
It was recommended that the company, in cooperation with the founder Elektroprivreda (EPCG), continue activities to resolve the property-legal status of the property so that CEDIS can realistically show the state of property and capital. When it comes to this recommendation, CEDIS stated in its statement on this audit that it cannot influence its implementation due to the fact that these activities are the exclusive responsibility of the founder of EPCG.
SAI noted that CEDIS employed a significant number (on average 247 persons per month) through the Agreement on taking over employees of the Agency, companies, state bodies (employees and persons in a state of emergency), state and local enterprises, without conducting a public advertisement .
"CEDIS should provide equal availability of jobs to unemployed persons and limit the scope for discrimination of persons seeking employment. As a rule, the services of the Agency for the Temporary Assignment of Employees should be used only for jobs that require temporary work," the SAI stated in the report.
The position of CEDIS is that they employ in accordance with the Labor Law, and according to the requirements of the work process and the initiatives of the managers of the organizational units.
The procedure of hiring persons through the Agency was created as a result of giving up outsourcing. Those persons are engaged in projects in order to significantly reduce the number of engaged persons (reduced by 150). When it comes to the SAI's recommendation that work contracts should be concluded only for jobs that involve independent preparation and repair of certain things, we state that we conclude contracts in accordance with the Law on Obligations. All of them are closed for jobs of physical and intellectual work", is the opinion of CEDIS.
Shortcomings of the Law on Public Procurement
SAI determined that CEDIS did not comply with the Law on Public Procurement and did not implement public/simple procurement procedures during procurement, which resulted in the division of procurement items, avoidance of public procurement procedures and the application of the Public Procurement Law.
"During 2022, CEDIS carried out simple procurement of meters, construction works, electrical material/equipment, facility security services, procurement and testing of PP apparatus, procurement of concrete houses, office supplies, office furniture, computer equipment, etc. total estimated procurement value of 2.023.624,98 euros and the total contracted value of 2.497.040,66 euros (including VAT) without conducting the appropriate procedure of public, i.e. simple procurement", states DRI.
SAI noted that CEDIS employed a significant number (on average 247 persons per month) through the Agreement on taking over employees of the Agency, companies, state bodies (employees and persons in a state of emergency), state and local enterprises, without conducting a public advertisement
CEDIS stated that although they respect the position of SAI that the Law on Public Procurement should be fully respected, we state that it contains shortcomings and that our users suffer the most because of this.
"From the aspect of risk distribution, at that moment, for the company as well as for the state of Montenegro, it is much more beneficial to carry out simple procurements in order to acquire measuring devices and enable the smooth functioning of the system and to respond to the growing demands of end users. The subject of procurement is the basic asset of the company that serves to perform activities of public interest, and whose untimely replacement and installation can negatively affect the company's operations - an increase in electricity losses, disputing the accuracy of measurements by consumers, which would cause financial losses and whose deficit would ultimately could lead to the suspension of electricity distribution to existing and new consumers".
Bonus video:
