Podgorica: Foster carer interrogated for reporting violence

In the Basic State Prosecutor's Office (ODT) in Podgorica, a hearing was held for SR, a foster parent from Podgorica who was reported for violence.

That's what the prosecutor's office told "Vijesta".

"Regarding your question, I would like to inform you that in the case established against the suspect SR, for the criminal offense of violence in the family or family community, committed to the detriment of mldb. JR and mldb FR, hearing held. "Due to the interests of the proceedings and the protection of the participants in the same, we cannot provide more information at this stage of the proceedings," said the Podgorica ODT.

"Vijesti" recently announced that the prosecutor's office, following an inquiry by "Vijesti", and following a report by the Police Administration, filed a case against a person who, according to the decision of the Center for Social Work Podgorica, has a foster carer's license, and who was reported for violence.

The case was reported to the Pogorica police in April.

The newsroom learned about that application from the statement of the authorities to the Center for Children and Youth "Ljubović", where the children were sent from the foster family after the application.

The director of "Ljubovića" Nina Delević previously told "Vijesta" that, among other things, the children were also diagnosed with injuries.

"On April 9, accompanied by a social worker and an inspector from the Security Center in the early hours of the morning, minor children were placed in the JU Center 'Ljubović', as they reported the violence they suffered in the foster family, which is why they were moved from the foster home families. The children were given psychological and medical help, injuries were also noted. "The next morning, the expert workers of the 'Ljubović' Center took the children for medical examinations again, in order to provide them with adequate therapy, because they were complaining of pain", "Vijesti" announced last week.

"Vijesti" also published a report of violence against another foster parent, also from Podgorica, and for that case, the ODT referred to colleagues from the Higher Prosecutor's Office.

"After being informed about the event you mention in your question, the Higher State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica, during the investigation, collected all the necessary information and data, and after evaluating them found that there is no reasonable doubt that the reported BV, or any other person, committed any criminal offense for which he is prosecuted ex officio, to the detriment of the minor SB", says manager Lepa Medenica in her reply.

That case of violence was reported to the police in January, and the Higher Prosecutor's Office, upon further inquiry by the newsroom about their actions, said that it was on January 6.

"Vijesti" previously sent questions to the Police Directorate about both cases and until today the newsroom has not received an answer.

Regarding the case of BV, the editorial office, as the competent authority, sent a set of questions to the Center for Social Work in Podgorica before, but that Center never answered about the actions of the prosecutor.

"In the case of learning that any form of violence, abuse or neglect is being done to a child, we are obliged to report any suspicion to the competent institutions, which will determine whether the suspicions are founded, while the CSR will take all actions to protect the rights and interests of the person. In the event that suspicions are founded and proceedings are initiated against the foster carer, the license review procedure is also initiated," Marija Nikolić, director of the Podgorica CSR, told "Vijesta" earlier about the specific case.

After the newsroom received the answer from the Higher Prosecutor's Office, "Vijesti" sent an additional question to that Center, among other things, whether and when they were informed by the Prosecutor's Office about the status of the application. CSR did not respond.

Questions were sent to the same Center about the allegations of the ODT in Podgorica that a case was opened against SR for the criminal offense of violence in the family or family community to the detriment of minors JR and FR

They did not answer questions about how long those children had been in the accommodation, and whether CSW initiated the process of reviewing the license...