Mushura: Where did they get Joka's signature when she was illiterate

The heirs of Starobudvanka Joka Božović, the widow of Ilija, initiated a court case against the Municipality for the return of 1.365 square meters of land behind the "Danilo Kiš" High School, having previously enclosed the rest of the unusurped attractive plot in the heart of Budva.

It was Joka's heirs who started fencing off the land before the court verdicts were passed, in order to protect the property, and in June of last year they fenced off the rest of the three plots, which were not usurped, with a reinforced fence, fearing that construction would not start on that part as well.

After "Vijesti" published the case of heirs sisters Mara and Draga Pribilović, who in front of the Mediterranean Sports Center, in anticipation of the court verdict, fenced off about a thousand square meters of their land, Joka's grandson Ivica Mušur addressed the editorial office, stating that their family was also forced to do the same half a year ago and that just a hundred meters from Pribilović, in order to preserve her property.

When we asked for a refund, the Municipality gave us a document with Joka's signature that she had received compensation. Imagine, Joka's signature is on the document, and she was illiterate, which is stated in the police archive

As the law says, if the land is not used for the purpose for which it was exempted within a month, it must be returned. The land was exempted 30 years ago, precisely in 1981, and until now it has not been put to use.

When we asked for a refund, the Municipality gave us a document with Joka's signature that she had received compensation. "Imagine, Joka's signature is on the document, and she was illiterate, which is stated in the police archive," said Mushura.

There is no document, he adds, when and where the alleged compensation was paid to Joka.

"Joka Božović never had a giro account and thus could not receive compensation," said Mušura.

The municipal police drew up a report half a year ago and passed a decision on the removal of the fence.

According to the latest estimates, the value of a square meter of land in that locality is around 500 euros.

The item disappeared from the archive

"None of the Budva lawyers, even though they knew exactly what it was about, wanted to take the case. Unfortunately, all those who were members of the municipal Land Expropriation Commission 30 years ago are deceased, with the exception of the recorder.

We complained back in 1980 and it is strange that the request, although it was filed, is not in the archive. Documents are missing in the case file, allegedly the case has disappeared. We have hired a lawyer to open the dispute, but it is going slowly.

In June of last year, I fenced off a plot of land near the high school, precisely in order to annoy the municipality into suing me, but they are still silent. That's why I decided to start a court case, and in the meantime to protect the property", said Mushura.