Member of the Europe Now Movement (PES) Darko Dragović is determined not to allow the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (ASK) access to assets and income, follows from a new decision by the ASK, according to which the official is violating the law because he has not submitted multiple asset reports.
The Misdemeanor Court, ASK responded to "Vijesti", has already fined Dragović twice, but even that was not enough for the public official to declare his assets and income.
Data from the Real Estate Administration, however, shows that the PES MP is "lighter" for one property that was registered to him until the beginning of November. It concerns an apartment in Bečići, measuring 57 square meters, which was once searched in the investigation against the late leader of the Škalja clan. Jovan VukotićThis property is now registered to the company “MB stars” from Danilovgrad, owned by ML who was found guilty of tax evasion in 2021 and sentenced to a suspended sentence and a fine of 5.000 euros with the obligation to pay damages to the state.
According to information from "Vijesti", which we published back in October, the real owner of the apartment was the late head of a criminal clan from Kotor. Allegedly, the 57-square-meter apartment was given to him by ML from Danilovgrad in the name of his brother's debt, but Vukotić could not transfer it to himself due to the financial investigation that was being conducted against him at the time. Therefore, he registered the apartment in the name of a legal representative...
However, Dragović still owns a 50-square-meter property in the Kotor settlement of Škaljari, which was subject to a ban on alienation and encumbrance until almost the end of last year, based on a decision of the Podgorica Higher Court from 2018. The property list states that the property is owned by the PES MP and that he acquired it by purchase.
In an earlier reaction to the "Vijesti" article that presented facts about his real estate, Dragović announced that he had returned both apartments to the Danilovgrad resident. M.L., with whom he had previously had an agreement to exchange the inherited property in Danilovgrad for residential units on the coast.
According to data from the Real Estate Administration, it includes several plots of land and part of a residential building, as well as a 34 square meter apartment in a three-story building in Plužine.
"I inherited a lot of real estate after my parents died. Among other things, I was the owner of a cadastral plot in the industrial zone of Danilovgrad with an area of approximately 3.200 square meters, whose market value in 2018 was around 120.000 euros. My plan was to buy other real estate for the value of that property. Therefore, I reached an agreement with ML that his company would sell me two apartments in Kotor and Budva, and that I would pay him the purchase price after the sale of the land or that I would subsequently transfer the ownership of the land to him...", Dragović explained earlier.
The Agency's decision states that Dragović violated the Law on the Prevention of Corruption because he failed to submit a report on income and property within 30 days of assuming public office as a councilor in the Danilovgrad Municipal Assembly.
"It is established that Darko Dragović violated Article 25, paragraph 6 of the Law on the Prevention of Corruption, because within 30 days from the date of his election to public office as a member of the Parliament of Montenegro, he did not inform the Agency thereof. It is established that Darko Dragović violated Article 25, paragraph 3, item 1 of the Law on the Prevention of Corruption, because he did not submit reports on income and assets for 2022 and 2023 to the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption," the Agency's decision, signed by the acting director, states. Dušan Drakić.
The decision also stated that, apart from the report on assets and income, the Agency was unable to obtain a statement from Dragović.
"In accordance with Article 37 of the Law on the Prevention of Corruption, the Agency requested the public official, by request number UPI-02-03-14/2-2024 dated 26.06.2024, to submit a written statement on the allegations in the initiative, within 15 days from the date of receipt of the request for submission of a written statement, but the public official could not be served at the address at which he was reported. The Agency sent a repeated summons on 26.11.2024 and 09.12.2024, which was delivered to the public official at the government body where he performs public office. The appointed public official did not respond or properly submit reports on income and assets, as prescribed by legal provisions, of which he was duly notified on 17.12.2024. year (delivery note no. AR 35764930 9 ME)", reads the decision of the Agency.
The agency is also pursuing proceedings against his wife. Jovane Dragovic which did not declare the assets of PES MPs in its reports.
In responses to questions from "Vijesti", the Agency said that Darko and Jovana Dragović have been fined several times for violating the Law on the Prevention of Corruption.
"So far, the competent department of the Agency has initiated the following misdemeanor proceedings - against Darko Dragović for failing to submit a report for 2022, for which the Misdemeanor Court imposed a fine of 100 euros, and for failing to submit a report for 2023, for which he was fined 700 euros. Against Jovana Radulović, now Dragović, for failing to submit a report upon assuming public office, for which the Misdemeanor Court imposed a fine of 100 euros, as well as for failing to submit a report for 2022, for which a fine of 100 euros was also imposed," the ASK announced.
Special prosecutor Vukas Radonjic previously announced that the Special State Prosecutor's Office is investigating whether Darko Dragović committed the crime of money laundering.
He did this after "Vijesti" published indicative data stating that the former head of the Škaljari criminal clan, Jovan Vukotić, allegedly registered two apartments on the coast in Dragović's name, which the PES official denied.
Ivan Vuković also breaks the law
Yesterday, the agency decided that DPS MP Ivan Vuković also violated the law by failing to properly report the sale of a new Kia Sportage car in the summer of 2023.
In his statement, Vuković stated that he had taken out a loan to trade cars, and that he had reported this change in assets, exceeding 10.000 euros, to the Agency in a special report, as well as in the regular report for 2023.
"A review of the Agency's database determined that Ivan Vuković submitted a report within 30 days of taking office electronically, and not a report relating to an increase in assets exceeding 10.000 euros. He submitted the report within 30 days of taking office only in electronic form, but not in printed form, which was required in accordance with Article 27 of the Law...", the decision states.
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