Former Assistant Director of the Police Directorate for the Criminal Investigation Sector, Enis Baković, stated today, during the continuation of the trial at the Higher Court in Podgorica, to former Police Directorate official Zoran Lazović, former Chief Special Prosecutor Milivoj Katnić and Special Prosecutor Saša Čađenović, that Serbian citizens Veljko Belivuk and Marko Miljković, members of the Kavača criminal clan, were not banned from entering Montenegro.
"Serbian citizens Veljko Belivuk and Marko Mijković, members of the Kavača criminal clan, were not banned from entering Montenegro," Baković said.
He added that there was no ban, but only an operational measure for persons of security interest.
Special Prosecutor Miloš Šoškić objected to his testimony, adding that his statement contradicted the content of the evidence and what he stated during the investigation, and was contrary to the Law on Foreigners.
Baković then said that just as he had told the story during the investigation, he had told everything "from A to Z" today.
Attorney Zoran Piperović, defense attorney for the accused Lazović, pointed out that as soon as the prosecutor refers to the Law on Foreigners, which is not addressed in the indictment, it is proof that the indictment is doomed to failure.
"Baković was previously a hero of some media, politicians, and parties, and today there was confusion when he said that the ban did not exist," emphasized lawyer Piperović.
Baković said that an operational measure was imposed on Belivuk and Miljković in 2018 because they are persons of interest from a security perspective.
"This measure was set based on data received from Serbia, followed by an analysis by our police and it was decided that this measure would be placed next to their names. All persons whose names had an operational measure placed next to them upon arrival at the border had to be notified by the border police. Then, after that, a decision will be made whether they will be released into Montenegro or not," Baković said.
He said that in December 2020, Lazović gave him a verbal request to have this operational measure removed from Belivuk and Miljković due to their work on the case.
"I didn't see anything controversial about that. I gave the order to Aleksandar Bošković and afterwards Bošković informed me that he had lifted the measure. I informed Lazović about that," said witness Baković. He added that he did not ask Lazović what case they were working on, nor did he have any reason to suspect.
"I would also point out that there was no rulebook on how a person is placed under an operational measure," Baković explained.
Responding to a question from lawyer Piperović, he said that Belivuk and Miljković were a threat to national security. Baković also stated that there is no list of persons who pose a threat to national security.
"I am not aware that there is a body within the Ministry of Internal Affairs that deals with whether a person can reside in Montenegro or not," he said.
When asked by lawyer Stefan Jovanović, witness Baković replied that his cooperation with Lazović was professional and that he never asked him for anything illegal.
When asked by Lazović, the witness said that he had never known that he had had contact with Radoje Zvicer or any member of an organized crime group.
"Through my work, I am not aware that Lazović privileged any person. Nor did I receive such information from partner services," said Baković.
The trial continues tomorrow.
Jovanović: The court found that Baković testified the same as in the SDT
The president of the special council, judge Veljko Radovanović, noted that witness Enis Baković gave a statement today in which he stated everything as in the prosecutor's investigation before the SDT.
The defense then stated that this testimony, stating that there was no ban on entry, refuted the main thesis of the indictment.
Special Prosecutor Miloš Šoškić said that the witness gave a statement today in which he tried to make things easier for the accused Zoran Lazović.
Attorney Stefan Jovanović, defense attorney for the accused Lazović, said that the court also stated that the witness said everything the same as during the hearing at the SDT and that it was not true that he spoke differently today.
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