State Prosecutor Marko Mugoša in the Basic State Prosecutor's Office (ODT) in Podgorica issued an order suspending the investigation initiated in the "Tunel" case against Veljko Marković, Milan Marković, Dejan Jovanović, Vladimir Eric, Katarina Baćović, Nikola Milačić and Predrag Mirotic, because of the criminal offense of "preventing evidence" from Article 390 paragraph 2 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro in co-perpetration, "Vijesti" learns.
This criminal offense was charged to them by the order to conduct the investigation.
A few days ago, the ODT filed an indictment against the suspects in the "Tunel" case, except for Ivica Piperović. Veljko Marković, Milan Marković, Dejan Jovanović, Vladimir Erić, Nikola Mirotić and Nikola Milačić are accused of the criminal offense - criminal association in association with a criminal offense - aggravated theft, while Baćović is accused of criminal association in association with the criminal offense of aggravated theft as a co-perpetrator. and falsifying a document, while Marijan Vuljaj is charged with the criminal offense of assisting the perpetrator after the crime has been committed.
Defendant Nikola Milačić's defense attorney, attorney Maja Turković, confirmed to "Vijesta" that she had received the aforementioned order on the suspension of the investigation.
"Namely, in the explanation of the order, the prosecution essentially concludes that there is no evidence that the defendants committed the criminal offense of preventing evidence in complicity, and that it cannot clearly conclude that their actions were aimed at making it difficult to conduct the proceedings that are being conducted or were being conducted before The High Court in Podgorica, because despite the fact that the evidence from the case file was indisputably missing, based on all the evidence, it is obvious that their intention was not directed in that direction "The intention of the defendants was to acquire illegal property benefits, which is why the proceedings in that part will continue before the competent court," Turković pointed out.
She added that "with this decision, the prosecution confirmed the position of the defense that the 'Tunnel' case was under strong political influence from the very beginning, given that we witnessed the public statements of certain politicians that the reason for digging the tunnel to the High Court depot was to contaminate the evidence from investigation regarding the murder of Duško Jovanović, and from other cases that are being conducted and which were being conducted before the High Court in Podgorica".
"These statements resulted in the defendants being charged with the crime of preventing evidence, in relation to which the proceedings have now been suspended. As the defense attorney for the defendant Nikola Milačić, I still have not received the prosecution's indictment and the court's summons to the hearing regarding the control and confirmation of the indictment. what I can say at any moment is that I am convinced of the innocence of my client, that I will easily prove it in the event that the case receives a judicial epilogue, given that absolutely not a single piece of evidence has been obtained that would confirm the thesis of the prosecution that my client is in any way connected with the event in question. I hope that the court will make a decision regarding the control of the indictment solely on the basis of the evidence in the case files and at this stage the proceedings will be suspended due to a deficiency," said attorney Turković.
The depot of the High Court in Podgorica was broken into on September 8, 2023, and the thieves stole material evidence stored in that room until September 11, it was established by the investigation of the Podgorica prosecutor's office and the police. The investigators discovered that the underground tunnel, through which the thieves entered the court depot, had been dug since the end of July.
According to the same information, the investigation has so far determined that during that period they entered the premises of the depot, in which they inspected and ransacked several things and objects in which court proceedings are being conducted or have been completed, but also that they ransacked the locked office in which finds a weapon. 19 weapons were stolen.
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