Vladimir Novović is the new chief special prosecutor

Podgorica High Court judge Vladimir Novović was elected as the new chief special prosecutor (GST).

After today's interview at the session of the Prosecutor's Council (TS), he was nominated for that position by the Acting Director of the Prosecutor's Office, Maja Jovanović.

Ten TS members voted for Milivoj Katnić's successor, while only prosecutor Đurđina Ivanović did not raise her hand.

Jovanović stated that she valued professional knowledge, while she valued the ability to perform the function of GST based on the opinion of the Extended Session of the Supreme Court and the interview.

Interviews started around 16 pm

The Prosecutor's Council started interviews with candidates who applied for the GST advertisement around 16 p.m.

After the lawyer from Bijelo Polje, Miladin Joksimović, who had a rather negative attitude about the situation in the prosecutor's organization, which is why he was motivated to apply for the new GST, the interview began with the candidate Vladimir Novović.

Novović said that the SDT faces numerous challenges in terms of personnel and technical equipment, and the biggest problem is "the public's perception of the work of the prosecution organization".

"I believe that the calling of a judge, that is, independence, can lead to justice as one of the greatest ideals. Judges have no authority, apart from the law and international conventions, so I chose the calling of a judge because through that work one acquires a wide range of knowledge. A judge has an instrument for limiting other branches of government," he explained why he chose the job of a judge.

The representative of the Ministry of Justice, Andrej Milović, asked whether, if there is a GST, he would resign if he did not resolve cases of high corruption.

"Names don't mean anything to me, there's no choice, we'll work as needed," replied Novović, and he couldn't talk about the items individually "because he doesn't know what's in them."

TS member Stevo Muk was interested in the statistics on Novović's work during his judicial office.

"Regarding the quality of work, I submitted a report for the last five years, and mostly it was one annulled decision per year. The decisions in the retrial were always the same, except for one," said Novović.

In response to TS member Filip Jovović, he said that, as far as financial investigations are concerned, along with the order to conduct an investigation, a financial investigation should always be opened at the same time.

"Nevertheless, there is a need for specialization, and to designate several prosecutors who would deal with that part of the work," answered Novović.

Special prosecutor Saša Čađenović said that he had been in the prosecutor's office his entire working life, except for his internship, stressing that the results of his work can be a guarantee that he will do his work professionally and honestly in the GST.

"I can respond to all tasks in the field of work of GST, I think I can improve and improve the work of SDT", said Čađenović.

He emphasized that he has always tried to honorably perform his duties as a prosecutor, and that he is proud of everything he has achieved so far.

Čađenović said that he clarified in the work plan that the SDT currently does not have a system that would adequately present the results of the prosecution's work to the public.

"The public should be informed of the facts in a timely manner, in order to prevent false reporting. Of course, there should be a balance, so that the public's right to information does not affect the course of the investigation," said the special prosecutor.

He stated in the work program submitted by TS that he acted in cases against the two largest organized groups, so TS member Steve Muk was interested in what the epilogue of the indictment, which he represented, was.

"You must know that prosecutors cannot influence the course or length of criminal proceedings. Corona has had a significant impact in the past two years. Another thing that affects the length of proceedings are changes in the court system, due to the election of judges, which led to the postponement of trials . So there is a small number of legally concluded cases. I don't have a single legally binding acquittal verdict. I have one," said Čađenović.

He said that the specialization of prosecutors in a certain area led to the fact that cases in the SDT were divided according to that, but that he was sure that all special prosecutors were trained to work on all cases.

"If I were GST, I would try to ensure that the cases are evenly distributed to the prosecutors," said Čađenović.

Muka was interested in the cooperation between the SDT and the Police Directorate, and whether it could be improved.

"The police cannot work without the prosecution and vice versa. Cooperation with the Special Police Team is good, look at the statistics. Not a single case in the SDT can be done without the Sector for the fight against organized crime. There is room for improvement as in all other jobs "Perhaps the work could be accelerated, the number of executors increased, because the UP officers are really overburdened," replied the prosecutor.

He replied that the rule in the SDT is that, parallel to the initiation of criminal proceedings, if there are grounds, a financial investigation is also initiated at the same time.

"Better organization is needed, but also help with that work. Associates in the Department for Financial Investigations are not paid adequately for the work they do. The salaries and the number of those performing that work should be increased and adequate working conditions should be created. SDT has had this problem since its foundation. ", said Čađenović.

He said that it would be good to form a highly specialized department in UP, which would deal exclusively with financial investigations.

Čađenović said about lengthy investigations that "decisions are limited by several factors".

"Especially cases of money laundering, organized crime, which often have an international character. Without evidence from abroad, it is not possible to make a decision, but I don't think there is a single custody case in the SDT where the six-month deadline has been exceeded," he said.

Special prosecutor Miloš Šoškić said in his opening address that he is honored to be a candidate for GST today in front of the members of the Prosecutor's Council.

Šoškić listed what he had done so far in his 20-year career as a prosecutor, and said that he "wanted to convince the TS members that he always worked on the basis of facts, law and justice" but that after his candidacy "the media and part of the NGO sector were orchestrated continued firing"...

"Because of all the above, my candidacy for GST ends here," Šoškić said.

"When we shed light on things that have been kept silent for 10 years, then we can talk," he said.

Acting VDT Maja Jovanović said that she was sorry to give up like this, because "she knows him best".

"Thank you for that," said Šoškić, thanked him and gave up answering the interview.