The former protected witness, Zoran Vlaović – Bohum, had an arrangement where, in exchange for his testimony and for influencing others, he would not have to serve his suspended sentence. Among various considerations, the Constitutional Court mandated an inquiry into how his sentence came to be suspended.

This statement was made during the ongoing trial concerning the murder of police official Slavoljub Šćekić, as conveyed by Dragoljub Đukanović, the defense attorney representing all four defendants.

A segment of Vlaović’s testimony was played in the Court of Appeal, to which the defense for the accused raised objections, expressing doubts about the authenticity of the recorded evidence.

Prior to this evidence being played, Judge Vesna Moštrokol stated that the panel had rejected the defense’s request to acquire case files from the Supreme Court related to a complaint filed by Šćekić’s sister, Slavica Šćekić, against several judges, specifically regarding the original CD from Vlaović’s interrogation that had gone missing.

Furthermore, the panel, which included Judges Zorica Milanović and Predraga Tabaš, denied Đukanović’s request to obtain files from the court in Belgrade that demonstrated that both Serbian and Montenegrin authorities were aware of Vlaović’s whereabouts, contrary to statements made earlier to the Court of Appeal.

In reading the verdict number, Đukanović indicated that it was evidence that the information submitted by the Police Directorate to the Court of Appeal in 2014 was not correct.

“I find it hard to believe that a court case took place without establishing his address. This exemplifies irresponsibility, indicating that the Serbian state authorities failed to exert the necessary effort to provide the requested information as mandated by the court,” he remarked.

The trial was suspended after three hours of hearings due to the declining health of one of the defendants, Ljubo Bigović.

Saša Boreta’s defense attorney, Danilo Mićović, asserted from the defense’s perspective that the evidence presented was legally invalid:

“There is no original evidence in the case files. The original has mysteriously disappeared. Today, we heard and viewed a copy. When I mention a copy, I mean it because what we reviewed today does not align with the transcripts made at that time. There are notable discrepancies and significant omissions, leading us to conclude that Vlaović’s statement is not suitable as evidence and cannot form the basis of a court decision,” Mićović stated.

He further noted that the defense had provided evidence to the court showing that relevant state authorities are indeed aware of the whereabouts of the once protected witness, Zoran Vlaović:

“We also submitted evidence indicating that there had been obstructions from the Montenegrin state authorities concerning the provision of security for this witness during proceedings and claims that they had not facilitated his direct hearing, which was proposed by the defense.”

Slavica Šćekić, sister of the murdered police official, stated that since 2006, when court proceedings began, the situation has been stagnant, akin to being caught in a vortex.

“Justice is finally attempting to break free from this vortex, but it is being challenged and obstructed by lawyers who strive to delay the process and prevent the administration of justice,” she expressed.

She went on to allege that lawyers are attempting to “impede justice by citing Ljubo Bigović’s supposed illness.”

“You observed the conclusion when the judge acknowledged that Bigović was entirely capable of understanding the trial process, yet the lawyers insistently push this alleged illness narrative for his release from custody, seeking to allow him to defend himself from freedom,” she added.

The trial concerning Šćekić’s murder before the Appellate Court panel has recommenced after the Constitutional Court annulled the prior verdict that sentenced Bigović, Saša Boreta, Milan Šćekić, and Ljubo Vujadinović to 30 years in prison for the murder of Šćekić, along with the deceased Alan Kožar, who received a sentence of six years and ten months for orchestrating three explosions at the construction site of the “Splendid” hotel in Bečići.

As per the annulled verdict, defendants Milan Šćekić and Vujadinović are accused of murdering a police inspector on August 30, 2005, incited by Boreta and Bigović due to police officer Šćekić’s active investigation related to attempts of extortion and a sequence of bombings at the construction site of the Splendid Hotel.

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