Businessman Veselin Vesko Barović (73) was released today to defend himself after being questioned at the Basic State Prosecutor's Office (ODT) in Podgorica.
Barović was arrested last night, one hour before midnight, on the orders of the Podgorica State Prosecutor's Office, on suspicion of committing the criminal offense of tax evasion, as well as unauthorized possession of weapons and explosives.
The investigation into tax evasion, at the request of the ODT, will be conducted in a regular procedure.
Barović was brought in for questioning at the Public Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica earlier today.
The arrest of Barović, video: Ivana Vlaović
The Police Directorate (UP) announced that Barović is suspected of evading taxes in the amount of almost 332.000 euros, and that during searches conducted at locations he uses in three cities, two pistols, ammunition and a frame with ammunition for an automatic weapon in illegal possession were seized from him.
Officers of the Crime Prevention Sector will, in coordination with the competent prosecutor's office, continue the financial investigation in relation to Barović in the further phase of the investigation.
"Officers of the Crime Prevention Sector - Department for Combating Corruption, Economic Crime, Conducting Financial Investigations and Suppression of Environmental Crime, in coordination with the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica, and with the support of the Tax Administration of Montenegro, after conducting comprehensive targeted activities, prosecuted VB due to the existence of grounds for suspicion that he committed the criminal offense of tax and contribution evasion," the UP states.
The police suspect that Barović committed a criminal offense in 2018 by failing to report legally acquired income that had an impact on determining these obligations and concealing data related to the determination, as a natural person, in order to avoid paying taxes and other prescribed duties, namely capital gains tax from the sale of shares in a legal entity.
"He did this by, as suspected, purchasing, as a natural person, 7% of the equity share of the company "C" doo Podgorica in the legal entity "T" doo Podgorica for 98.000,00 euros, after which he sold the same equity share as a member of the company who has unlimited ownership rights to the share representing 7% of the company's equity in the legal entity "T" doo Podgorica to the buyer SB, for the amount of 3.785.704 euros, thereby failing to report legally acquired income from capital, i.e. the difference between the purchase and sale price of the property in the amount of 3.687.704 euros, within the legal deadline, and thus, based on the calculation of capital gains tax for 2018, pursuant to the Law on Personal Income Tax, he evaded tax in the amount of 331.893,36 euros, and thereby realized an unlawful property gain in the stated amount, to the direct detriment of the Budget of Montenegro," the UP announced.
Carrying out further activities within the national action "Browing", in coordination with the Basic State Prosecutor's Offices in Podgorica and Kotor, and acting on previously initiated and obtained orders from the basic courts in Podgorica, Kotor and Danilovgrad, last night searches were carried out of several facilities in the area of Podgorica, Danilovgrad and Budva, used by Barović.
"Two firearms were seized - two pistols, dozens of rounds of ammunition, as well as a magazine with 17 rounds of ammunition for a "Herckler & Koch" automatic weapon," the UP announced.
By order of the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica, he was deprived of his liberty at 10:43 p.m. and will be taken to the acting state prosecutor at the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica within the legal deadline, along with a criminal report.
Last night, police officers searched apartments, houses and buildings used by Barović.
After the search of the house in Bandići, Barović was invited to give an official statement at the building of the Crime Prevention Sector of the Police Directorate.
For over 30 years, Barović has been considered one of the closest friends of former President Milo Đukanović.
He was mentioned in the indictment of Italian prosecutor Giuseppe Scelzi as one of the bosses of "tobacco smuggling" that went through Montenegro during the 90s.
During the mass voucher privatization, as the owner of "Eurofond", with a group of related persons and companies, he took over several Montenegrin companies, and was also active on the stock exchanges - here and in the region.
Barović was a major figure in Montenegrin basketball for almost three decades and the president of KK Budućnost during the club's greatest successes in the former state, as well as the president of the Basketball Association for several terms.
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