Detained businessman Duško Knežević did not gift a trip to Dubai in March 2010 to Minister Branimir Gvozdenović and his wife, but to citizens Branimir and Marijana Gvozdenović.
Because of this, the director of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption Jelena Perović decided, the Minister of Spatial Planning at the time was not obliged to report that expensive gift.
The initiative to determine a possible violation of the Law on the Prevention of Corruption was submitted by the Network for the Affirmation of the Non-Governmental Sector (MANS) in 2019.
The Agency at that time, headed by Sreten Radonjić, refused to initiate proceedings, so MANS initiated proceedings before the Administrative Court.
Two years later, the court ordered the Agency to conduct proceedings related to Knežević's allegations that he paid the expenses of an expensive trip to Dubai for the two Gvozdenovićs, as well as for the former head of state and first lady Milo and Lidija Đukanović.
The procedure for Đukanović ended in October 2022, when Perović determined that, now the honorary president, he had no obligation to report the trip.
Knežević five years ago, after the release of a video of him handing over an envelope with more than 97.500 euros to former high-ranking DPS official Slavoljub Stijepović, also provided the media with evidence that he had showered the then top government with gifts and banking benefits.
He claimed that the gift trip for Đukanović and Gvozdenović cost him 29.500 euros.
Three indictments were brought against him in Montenegro - for organizing a criminal group, money laundering and abuse of position in business operations.
At the beginning of 2020, the Podgorica High Court confirmed the indictment against Knežević in the "Karbon" case, in which he allegedly caused damage to the company "Global Karbon" with four other members of the criminal group and obtained an illegal benefit of 1.942.000 euros.
According to the decision signed by Jelena Perović, Gvozdenović explained to the Agency that "he went on the trip in question privately, with his wife, and that the specific public function he was performing at that moment was in no way connected with the trip."
"Inspecting part of the Agency's database - the register of gifts, for the years 2010 and 2011, it was determined that there is no travel in question in it, and that there is no written report on its refusal. Upon inspection of the letter from the Ministry of Internal Affairs - Sector for the fight against corruption, it was determined that the person Duško Knežević, the president of the Atlas Group, is not in Montenegro and that he is not available to the competent authorities of Montenegro. Upon inspection of the letter from the Government of Montenegro - the General Secretariat, it was determined that they do not have information on whether (Gvozdenović) in the period from 25.03.2010. until 30.03.2010. was on a trip to the UAE - Dubai as the then Minister of Spatial Planning and Environment", the decision, which was adopted at the end of last year and published yesterday, states.
On the other hand, after reviewing the Atlas Group letter with attachments, it was established that Duško Knežević, on behalf of the Atlas Group, paid for a trip to the UAE - Dubai in the period from March 25.03.2010, 30.03.2010. until XNUMX. years.
"...From the visa that was issued to enter the UAE, it is determined that it was not issued for the then minister, nor was it indicated that the trip was of an official nature... So, in concrete terms, he did not receive a prohibited gift, nor did he travel as a public official, which evidence did the Agency give full faith, appreciating them as clear and true", explained Perović.
Yesterday, the agency published on its website dozens of decisions for public officials, which, according to the documentation, were made mostly last year.
The Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT) recently issued an order to conduct an investigation against Perović due to the suspicion that by abusing her position from August 2020 to March this year, she benefited herself and others, and caused damage to the budget of Montenegro of at least 100.000 euros. She denied the guilt and defends herself from freedom, but surveillance measures have been imposed on her - a ban on leaving the apartment, a ban on access and meetings with certain people and confiscation of her travel document.
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