The foundations of the rule of law are at the Faculty of Law, which educates future holders of independent institutions, said Chief Special Prosecutor Vladimir Novović.
Today, Novović held a lecture "Witness as evidence in criminal proceedings", on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Faculty of Law.
He said that among the students there are future judges, prosecutors, lawyers, public bailiffs, notaries and that they are the reason why all those who have chosen that profession have the obligation to serve as a good example for them to one day deal with jobs in the judiciary.
Novović said that such an example cannot be set with big words, but only with actions that must be impartial and in accordance with the Constitution, laws, and above all ratified international treaties and standards of the European Court of Human Rights.
"The foundations of the rule of law, which we constantly strive for, are located in this place that educates the future bearers of independent institutions," said Novović.
Speaking about the witness in the criminal proceedings, he said that he has two duties - to respond to the summons and testify.
"To summon a person as a witness, it is sufficient that there is a probability that he will be able to provide information about any fact related to the procedure," Novović said.
He said that there are also persons who cannot be heard as witnesses.
"These are persons whose testimony would violate the duty to keep secret information, until the competent state authority releases him from that duty," said the Chief Special Prosecutor.
Novović said that the interrogated cannot even be the defender of the defendant about what the defendant entrusted to him, a person who would violate the duty of professional secrecy with his testimony.
"These are a religious confessor, a lawyer, a health care worker, unless the exemption from that duty is established by a special regulation or a statement of the person in whose favor it was established to keep the secret and a minor," he said.
Novović said that these persons cannot testify in the proceedings, but that they are not absolutely excluded.
He said that hearings of persons who cannot be witnesses or those who are exempt from the duty to testify cannot be legally valid.
Novović, speaking about a protected witness or a cooperating witness, said that the conviction decision cannot be based only on his statement.
A protected witness, as he said, is completely identical to a witness, except that he is heard in a special regime - under a pseudonym, or with the use of appropriate technical devices.
Novović answered questions from students, but not journalists.
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