The Minister of Internal Affairs (MUP) Danilo Saranović said that the fugitive policeman Ljubo Milović could justify the 48 million euros he has in his account if he had been a policeman for 5.000 years.
Šaranović, in response to a parliamentary question from the head of the Democrats' club, Boris Bogdanović, whether the Anti-corruption Department, whose composition he found in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, checked the property and lifestyle of police officials and, if so, what was the specific subject of those checks, replied that they had created a Rulebook on checking on the control of the lifestyle and property of police officers.
"The only thing left is to get the opinion of the AZLP. This rulebook creates a normative framework for the full functionality of the anti-corruption department, and it is better than the Law for the Prevention of Corruption, because it provides stronger mechanisms," Šaranović said in the Assembly.
Šaranović said that Milović worked for a salary of 800 euros, and that in the meantime it was established that he had 48 million euros available in just one account.
Speaking about the lifestyle of Petar Lazović, Zoran Lazović's son, Bogdanović, "who at the age of 19 found Aladdin's lamp, so he bought a car worth 40.000 euros, and at the age of 23 a car worth 35.000 euros, and his own brother at the age of 23 bought real estate which is worth over 100.000 euros."
He said that the current police officer, the wife of Veselin Veljović, drives a car worth 80 euros, according to the officially paid invoice.
Bogdanović said that police officer Vukašin Žarković bought an apartment worth over 80.000 euros from the MUP for 5 euros.
"He paid 230.000 euros for three apartments and one garage space, all with a salary of 700 euros. Magic. A policeman from Wall Street".
He pointed out that police officer Siniša Jokić and his family have property worth two million euros.
Answering Bogdanović's question regarding the procedure for electing the deputy director of the Police Administration, Saranović said that the law explicitly gave him the authority to propose a candidate and that this is one of the issues where there is no right to make a mistake.
"I guess it was my duty to you who elected me as a minister, I guess it was my duty to all the citizens of Montenegro, that as a minister I am ready to show that I have integrity and that I am ready to I act in the interest of the institution of which I am the head," said Šaranović.
Explaining why he had no right to make a mistake, Šaranović said that he had to do everything to put an end to the collapse of the reputation of the honorable police calling.
He pointed out that his task was to find the best crime fighter among professional and courageous police officers.
Šaranović said that he did not have a prepared candidate, but showed in a transparent procedure that his task as the head of the MUP was to find the "best among the good", not the "worst among the obedient".
He stressed that clans will not rule again in Montenegro, stating that this is an obligation towards the generations to come.
Bogdanović said that if Saranović is dismissed, "the hands that sign that decision may bear the seal of Montenegro".
“But they are actually driven by the appetites of those who used this land as a playground to build their empires. Those, whose champagne was poured over the wounds of our nation, whose deeds were engraved over the innocent journalists and policemen who fell on our streets. And know, they will not be alone in that cowardly fight. On their side are those for whom titles are more important than the principles and image of this country, than the people who elected them".
Bogdanović said that these are "those who try to wear the reform jersey, but the game is so familiar to them that even the youngest inhabitants of the country can recognize the tactics of the old system."
"It's like if a wolf tried to infiltrate among sheep dressed in a woolen sweater - maybe at first glance it seems convincing, but as soon as it opens its mouth, it's clear who they belong to," said Bogdanović.
Social Democrats (SD) MP Nikola Zirojević asked Šaranović if he thinks that by insisting that every candidate for the director of the Police Administration be subjected to a polygraph, their reputation and dignity has been violated, bearing in mind that polygraph tests are performed on suspects of criminal offenses.
Šaranović said that he suggested a polygraph, but that it was not an eliminatory condition.
"From your question, I conclude that you are probably not familiar with the fact that Article 120 of the Law on Internal Affairs stipulates that a police officer who is engaged in the fight against organized crime and corruption is obliged to undergo a polygraph test testing. So, you asked the question based on the wrong claim that only those suspected of criminal offenses are subjected to polygraph testing", Saranović said.
He said that due to the current situation, where numerous police officials are suspected of assisting or operating within high-risk criminal groups, the polygraph test, as one of the mechanisms for checking integrity, was the repayment of the debt owed to honorable and professional police officers and the removal of criminal and corrupt burden from the honorable police uniform.
He pointed out that this institute has not been used so far.
Commenting on the answer, Zirojević said that he was not told what happened to those who did not pass the polygraph. He pointed out that polygraph tests are carried out within the service and that they remain there, but that the public perceived it differently.
Šaranović said that the entire report from the polygraph test was classified as classified.
"If the police officers had doubts about the mechanism or the polygraphist, they certainly would not have agreed to be questioned. A possible failure on the polygraph does not mean that the police officer is incriminated. Thirdly, strengthening all control mechanisms within the MUP is a key thing," says Šaranović.
He pointed out that any operational information that points to the unworthiness or compromised integrity of a police officer will not be neglected by the control mechanisms.
"Procedures have been initiated in numerous cases. The anti-corruption department is starting to work, and all control mechanisms have been initiated, and be sure that this is one of the key reasons for the attack on the security sector. Because in order to have better results, we have the duty and obligation to let's ensure the full integrity of all services," said the minister.
BS MP Admir Adrović asked when a police station will be opened in Gusinje and when residents of this municipality will be able to exercise their rights regulated by the Law on Internal Affairs.
Šaranović replied that although the Gusinje police station was formally established and "started working" on July 1, 2018, from that day until the election of this Government, the actual conditions for its work in the territory of Gusinje were not created.
"In this jubilee year, I have the intention to provide a solution to all the problems that have been encountered and accumulated for a long time, which is why I insisted on a detailed analysis of all problems and the preparation of solutions and the urgent action of the MUP so that finally all residents of the municipality of Gusinje can exercise their rights regulated by law about internal affairs, in the same way as residents of other municipalities", said Šaranović.
BS MP Ervin Ibrahimović asked Šaranović if he found unsuccessful tenders, why they were not implemented, whether police vehicles correspond to EU standards for patrol vehicles...
Šaranović said that during 2023, 59 tenders were launched, of which 13 procedures were canceled, namely five procedures because no bids were received, and seven procedures because bidders submitted incorrect bids.
He pointed out that in relation to police vehicles according to EU standards, a special commission was formed at the level of the Ministry - Police Directorate, which made a technical specification according to the needs of the police and the fiscal possibilities and financial resources determined in the Budget Law for 2024.
"The public procurement procedure for the procurement of new vehicles through operational leasing, estimated value of 2.479.338 euros without VAT, was announced on March 15, 2024, and is ongoing," said Šaranović.
He pointed out that the tender for the procurement of official uniforms, estimated at 4,1 million euros, is ongoing and that according to the current dynamics, the opening of bids is scheduled for May 13.
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