Veljović’s Trial to Restart as Case is Consolidated with Indictment Against Vasović
Veljović, Photo: Boris Pejović
The trial of Veselin Veljović is set to be combined with the charges against the former head of the Bar criminal police, Ilija Vasović, and the proceedings will commence anew due to a new composition of the trial panel.
Judge Vesna Kovačević, the presiding judge of the special panel, stated that the pre-trial panel’s ruling led to the consolidation of these two cases.
The trial concerning Veljović, who previously served as the director of the Police Directorate and faces allegations of forming a criminal organization and abuse of office, has been postponed today at the Higher Court in Podgorica.
This postponement was necessitated by the merging of the cases.
They requested the court via email for a trial delay. The next main hearing is set for February 26th.
Maja Turković, the defense attorney for the fugitive defendant Nikola Bačilović, informed “Vijesti” that she received an email yesterday indicating that lawyers from Montenegro can substitute for lawyers from Serbia in Montenegrin courts.
The State Department of Prosecution announced that the charges were brought forth because evidence gathered during the investigation indicated a reasonable suspicion that the defendants were involved as members of a criminal organization led by the accused Aleksandar Mrkić, in Ulcinj and Bar during the latter half of 2020.
As stated in the indictment, the following individuals have been accused: Aleksandar Lj. Mrkić, Veselin R. Veljović, Nikola Lj. Mrkić, Mujo Nikočević, Arsenije Kalezić, Stefan D. Bubanja, Nikola D. Bubanja, Željko M. Bulatović from Kolašin, Dušica G. Bulatović, Predrag D. Veljić, Borislav R. Lečić, Nemanja N. Anđelković, Goran M. Gluščević, Nikola M. Bačilović, and Sadik A. Elnagar. They allegedly became members of a criminal organization formed by Aleksandar Mrkić in 2018 in Cmoja Gora, with the intent of committing numerous criminal acts including smuggling and money laundering for illegal profit and power. This leads to the charge against Mrkić for the creation of a criminal organization under Article 401a, paragraph 1 in conjunction with paragraph 6 of the Montenegro Criminal Code, whereas Veljović and the others face charges of creating a criminal organization under Article 401a, paragraph 2 in relation to paragraph 1, 16 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro.
Furthermore, defendants Mrkić Aleksandar, Nemanja Anđelković, and Arsenije Kalezić are alleged to have committed smuggling as accomplices. The indictment also specifies that Mrkić Aleksandar, Bubanja Stefan, and Bubanja Nikola performed smuggling as co-perpetrators under Article 265, paragraph 2 in relation to Article 23, paragraph 2 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro.
Veselin Veljović is also suspected of committing the offense of abuse of official position under Article 416, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro.
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