The Anti-Corruption Agency is determining whether the former president Milo Djukanovic, during the years of using the VIP revolving card, violated regulations by not reporting accurate information about assets and income, as well as possible gifts.
"Vijesti" was told by that institution that "the Agency, acting within its legal jurisdiction, is thoroughly analyzing all information related to the VIP card of the former President of Montenegro."
Last week, the agency announced a decision according to which Đukanović violated the Law because in 2019 he failed to report the amount of 16.741,24 euros - a debt on a VIP revolving card at Atlas Bank, which was allegedly settled that year by his son Blažo.
They did this six years after the Network for the Affirmation of the Non-Governmental Sector (MANS) initiated the procedure, which all previous managements had avoided.
During the investigation, the Agency also received case files from the Commercial Court, according to which the former head of state spent almost 2007 euros from that card between the beginning of 2015 and the end of 250.000.
They also forwarded the case files to the Special State Prosecutor's Office, and Đukanović announced that he would file a lawsuit with the Administrative Court regarding the Agency's decision.
In a statement to the media, he stated that the adoption of an administrative act, without the prior opportunity to comment on the results of the investigation procedure, despite the explicit legal obligation of ASK to provide him with that right, indicates an obvious intention to violate Article 14 of the Law on Administrative Procedure.
"Such conduct, in itself, implies holding accountable those who knowingly and intentionally violate the law, in order to meet the expectations of those protagonists of the political scene under whose pressure they work, and who see their political opus as no more than trite sensationalism of this type," said Đukanović.
Deputy President of the Council Mladen Tomović responded to Đukanović on the same day that his reaction “besides being full of untruths, it insults common sense and represents a mockery of the citizens of Montenegro and its institutions.” He also emphasized that Đukanović “did not deny the fact of cash inflows on the VIP card.”
"We were informed by the acting director of the Agency that there is a delivery note in the case files stating that he refused to receive the aforementioned results of the investigation procedure, and that both previously and when submitting the request for a statement, the notification of receipt of the shipment at the home address was refused," Tomović announced last week.
EX OFFICIAL PROCEDURE
"Vijesti" asked the Agency whether last week's decision, which relates to the failure to report gifts in the amount of 16.741,24 euros in 2019, was also the only procedure that could be initiated in connection with Đukanović's VIP revolving card, given that the Law on the Prevention of Corruption from June last year also defines a statute of limitations after 10 years from the date of the violation of the regulations.
Article 44 stipulates that "proceedings referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article may not be initiated after the expiry of a period of ten years from the date of the violation, or five years from the date of knowledge of the violation."
The obligation to report any debt or claim - principal, interest, repayment period - also existed in the former Law on the Prevention of Conflict of Interest, which was in force from 2009 to January 2016.
Annual reports for the previous year are submitted by the end of March of the current year. However, Đukanović did not report any debt in his 2014 report. He submitted his 2015 annual report on March 31, 2016, but it did not state any debt either.
"In accordance with its jurisdiction and legal limitations, the Agency has initiated an ex officio procedure in relation to the above issue. We will take steps to determine all relevant facts and potential responsibilities in this case. The public will be informed in a timely manner about all findings, as well as any measures taken, with consistent respect for the principles of legality and impartiality," the institution headed by the acting director said. Dušan Drakić.
CLOSE TO 250.000 SPENT WITH NO OFFICIAL TRACE
Analytical data regarding the VIP revolving card shows, the Agency states in its decision, that over the years, 11 payments exceeding 10.000 euros have been recorded, that the revenue side achieved a turnover of 236.195,02 euros by May 2015, and the expenditure side achieved 249.016,33 euros.
"Upon reviewing the case files submitted by the Commercial Court of Montenegro on November 21.11.2024, 2007. At the request of the Agency, it was established that the VIP revolving card in question existed indisputably, and that it was used in the period from January 2015 to May 10.000... An insight into the card's analytics recorded cash payments to credit card accounts in the amount of over 11 euros, a total of 2007 times, as follows: March 20.000 - 2007 euros, September 20.100 - 2008 euros, April 15.000 - 2009 euros, January 16.635 - 2009 euros, April 12.760 - 2009 euros, October 15.000 - 2010 euros, October 18.149.17 - 2010, November 10.000 - 2011 euros, July 10.000. - 2012 euros, July 11.600 - 2015 and May 20.000 - XNUMX euros", the decision states.
In an earlier statement to the Agency, Đukanović confirms that he was the owner of a VIP revolving card:
"The public official responded in writing to the Agency's invitation dated 15.07.2021, with document number UPI 02-01-6/14-2019, in which he essentially emphasized that he was the user of the aforementioned card, which he debited like any citizen in a private capacity and for personal expenses, and not for the expenses of any function he performed. He further emphasized that he was not aware of the existence of a monetary debt in the amount of 16.741,24 euros, and that his son B. Đ. paid the aforementioned amount. He added that if he had known about the existence of this debt, he would certainly have reported it in the regular annual report," he claimed.
The former head of state, according to official data on the Agency's website relating to the period from January 2007 to December 2015, never reported being in debt on any grounds.
During that period, he held several government positions, but also took a break from them. He did not hold government positions from 2010 to 2012, when he again assumed the presidency of the Government until November 2016.
"Vijesti" and CIN-CG announced back in 2019 that the banker is now the accused Dusko Knezevic through Atlas Bank, covered debts from Đukanović's card number VIP revolving card, and that his debt on that card fell under "risky loans".
Knežević, or rather his bank, allegedly repaid 2017 euros in February 16.741,24, along with other risky loans that at the time totaled 14 million, and these are privileged individuals.
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