Order to expand the investigation against Jelena Perović: Nina Paović will also be suspected of abuse of position

The Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT) is investigating i Nina Paović, assistant to the former director of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption Jelena Perović, and is suspected of abuse of official position.

"In the Special State Prosecutor's Office, criminal proceedings are ongoing against the defendant NP, the assistant director of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption, for the prolonged criminal offense of abuse of official position, committed as a co-perpetrator, initiated by the order to expand the investigation that is being conducted against the defendant, the former director of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption ", said to "Vijesta" yesterday, the representative of the SDT, the special prosecutor Vukas Radonjic and added that he could not provide more information, in order to protect the interests of the procedure and the purpose of the investigation.

Perović was dismissed from her position as director of the Agency two days ago, and has been under house arrest since mid-April on suspicion of abusing her official position and damaging the state budget by more than 100.000 euros.

SDT launched the investigation after the Ministry of Finance submitted to them the findings of the Budget Inspection, which was published on March 22.

According to the inspection report, ASK paid 134.221 euros of variables to employees last year, almost 11.000 euros in January 2023, more than 15.000 thousand in February, 12.326 in March... Perović, and she herself is on the award list.

According to documents from the Budget Inspection, Perović and Paović worked as much as 310 hours of overtime last year and earned 5.212,1 euros on that basis. Both were in the working groups of the Agency, where they earned additional income of thousands of euros.

According to Perović's decision, both had the right to a company car 24 hours a day.

Perović was elected director in mid-2020. She previously left the position of president of the Cetinje Basic Court. Paović, who was a consultant in the court in Cetinje, was also invited to the Agency very quickly.

"Vijesti" previously announced that Perović, during her judgeship, regularly reported to her then boss and President of the Supreme Court, Vesna Medenica, who is now also accused of abuse of official position.

In one of the messages with Medenica, he also mentions Paović.

"President, I have to tell you that the NP advisor is one of the few who is so dedicated to work and the court. Loyal to law and justice. I know that there are criteria, but it seems to me that this trait cannot be recognized unless we say for whom it works. I simply had a moral obligation to tell you this. Excuse me at liberty. Hello," she writes to Medenica with a smiling emoticon.

ASK's advice to employees: Park official vehicles

The Council of the Agency dismissed Jelena Perović two days ago, and yesterday they warned the employees by e-mail again that "decisions and powers of attorney made by the former director regarding the rights of employees cease to be valid".

"In this regard, by order of the Council, I would like to inform you that official vehicles must be parked in the ASK parking area and may not be used by employees on annual leave. The keys must be returned to ASK, without delay," reads the email sent to all employees yesterday.

Council President Pavle Ćupić pointed out to the employees during the session on Thursday that Perović is "now a citizen of Jelena Perović" and warned the employees that they will bear legal responsibility if they work according to her orders.