Main Hearing in “Jadran” Smuggling Case Delayed Due to Lawyer’s Illness
The trial involving individuals accused of smuggling approximately 60 kilograms of cocaine aboard the “Jadran” has been rescheduled to March 21st.
The delay in the main trial session at the Higher Court in Podgorica was due to the absence of attorney Marko Radović, who provided the court with medical documentation via email to confirm his inability to attend the scheduled proceedings due to health issues.
Judge Zoran Radović, president of the special panel, noted that the Appellate Court of Montenegro has overturned the Higher Court’s decision to terminate the detention of defendant Dejan Rovčanin upon appeal. He indicated that the extra-judicial panel of the Higher Court in Podgorica will make a determination in the retrial.
The primary hearing was set for today, following a pre-trial chamber decision to combine the “Jadran” case with another indictment against Miloš Kulić and Dejan Rovčanin.
The Special State Prosecutor’s Office has filed charges against Kulić, who has lost his status as a cooperating witness in this legal proceeding.
The indictment from the special prosecutor states that Vladimir M. Račić, who is currently at large, alongside Dejan D. Rovčanin, Duško V. Radenović, Radomir R. Osmajić, and Vojin M. Stupar are accused of smuggling around 60 kilograms of cocaine.
As per the indictment, to execute the criminal plan, Radenović and Kulić, a senior sergeant in the Montenegrin Navy designated as a cooperating witness by the Higher Court’s decision, on April 17, 2019, by prior agreement, intentionally encouraged the defendants Račić and Rovčanin to commit a criminal offense.
The defendants Račić and Stupar, as co-perpetrators, engaged in the unauthorized production, possession, and distribution of narcotic drugs in conjunction with illegal possession of weapons, while Radenović also committed these same criminal offenses. The defendants Račić and Rovčanin were charged with forming a criminal organization under Article 401 a, paragraph 1, while Radenović, Osmajić, and Stupar were charged under Article 401 a, paragraph 2 of Montenegro’s Criminal Code.
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