Former Minister of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property Janko Odović In less than eight months, during which he managed the department, he spent more than 85.000 euros on temporary engagements of associates and individuals.
He is from November 1, 2023 until he hands over his duties. Slaven Radunović, who replaced him on July 24th last year after the reconstruction of the 44th Government, signed a total of 39 such contracts, of which 19 were for work with individuals, two for consulting and 17 for supplementary and additional work.
Odović knew back in May 2024 that in July, when the government was scheduled to be reshuffled, he would be working overtime on Saturdays and Sundays, so he and the then acting secretary of the department Boban Zečević signed a contract for additional work, based on which he was paid 500 euros.
"Vijesti" obtained this data in accordance with the Law on Free Access to Information, using the platform of the Network for the Affirmation of the Non-Governmental Sector (MANS). The editorial team requested copies of documents containing data and information on concluded contracts for work, temporary and occasional engagement and other contracts concluded by the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property in the period from the first day of work of the 44th Government - November 1, 2023 to September 1, 2024, which the current Ministry of Slaven Radunović provided.
In just over a month (from July 24 to September 1 last year), Radunović concluded five such contracts, worth a total of 14.800 euros. These were four contracts for work and one for additional work.
HE BELIEVED THE ONE CONVICTED FOR FALSE TESTIMONY
On his first working day, Odović signed a contract on secondment with the current Acting Director General of the Directorate for State Property and Real Estate Cadastre in the Department of Spatial Planning and Urbanism. Vesna Simović.
This is a contract for additional work, which covers the period from November 1 to April 30 (six months). Simović undertook to organize "technical tasks that are necessary for the minister's office, in terms of organizing, monitoring and implementing orders and conclusions for the minister" outside working hours, but also on weekends. For this, she was paid an additional 600 euros per month, or 3.000 for six months of work.
On the same day, under almost the same conditions, Odović concludes a contract with an economist at the Ministry. Kimetom Merulić. Her contract for working after hours and on weekends lasted two months, for which she received an additional 1.000 euros. Merulić, among others, was convicted several years ago of false testimony in the “Ramada” affair. The court found that in September 2016, she gave false testimony as a witness in the Special State Prosecutor’s Office, and then did the same in the Higher Court, during the proceedings for abuse of office against the former director of the Railway Directorate and then a Social Democratic official. Nebojsa ObradovicHe was also convicted in that proceeding.
Odović hired her to prepare a financial plan outside of working hours, but also to "perform financial tasks related to the function of verifying the accuracy and validity of proposals or requests for payment..."
Zečević also signed a contract for temporary work, and worked outside working hours and on weekends on tasks related to communication with organizational units of the Ministry. For this, she received 1.500 euros in addition to her salary.
The majority of contracts for additional and supplementary work were signed on April 1st of last year.
Odović then signed such contracts with seven employees, for a period of two months, and this additional work was paid 150 euros per month, or a total of 2.100.
When it comes to consulting contracts, the former minister concluded two during his eight-month term - the first, six-month one, sought expert assistance for the promotion of projects implemented by the Ministry, advisory services and the improvement of international cooperation. Odović paid 9.000 euros for this, or 1.500 euros per month. He also hired the consultant on June 17 last year. This was a three-month engagement that included assistance in drafting the Agreement on Joint Voting of Shareholders for the Purchase and Sale of Shares of the “Dr Simo Milošević” Institute. This cost taxpayers 2.850 euros.
SERVICE TECHNICIANS, LOCKSMITHS, PSYCHOLOGISTS…
Odović signed a service contract with a service technician on November 3, 2023, responsible for administrative, technical and support tasks in the Legal, General Affairs and Public Procurement Service. The contract was for a fixed term of six months, on the basis of which the associate earned 3.120 euros.
In the same Service, in the office, according to the documentation, a mechanic also worked under a contract for a specific period of time, with whom Odović signed a three-month contract - from July 22 to October 21, 2024, for which 1.650 euros were spent, or 550 euros per month.
The road traffic technician also performed administrative, technical and support duties in the Legal, General Affairs and Human Resources Department.
He was hired on a temporary contract from February 19 to May 18 last year, with a monthly salary of 500 euros.
Odović assigned the bachelor of psychology, under a service contract, to the Directorate for Inspection Supervision - Directorate for Urban Supervision, "to perform administrative, technical and support tasks." Taxpayers paid a total of 1.950 euros for this three-month engagement.
Radunović doesn't skimp either
In less than 40 days in office, Radunović signed five contracts, worth almost 15.000 euros.
On his first day at the head of the department, he signed a service contract with an electrical technician, "for the purpose of performing administrative, technical and support tasks in the Legal, General Affairs and Human Resources Department." The six-month engagement expired on January 23, and the electrical technician was paid 650 euros per month, or a total of 3.900 euros.
In August, Radunović signed a six-month employment contract with a culinary technician - until February of this year. She was assigned to the "Ministry's office to perform administrative, technical and support tasks", and was also paid 650 euros per month.
From September to the end of November, the Bachelor of International Economics created visual content for Radunović on social media, designed posts, stories, made short videos and other visuals, and also trained the responsible official of the Ministry in working with design tools and techniques. He did this under a contract for additional work, on weekdays outside working hours, on Saturdays and Sundays, and for this he received an additional 300 euros per month.
The Bachelor of Economics worked under a contract for services in administrative, technical and support work at the Public Relations Bureau from August 1 to December 31 last year, for which she was paid a total of 4.000 euros.
From September 2 to December 1 last year, Radunović also had a journalism specialist on his team under a temporary contract to “perform administrative, technical and support tasks in the Department for International Cooperation.” 2.100 euros were spent on the three-month engagement.
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