Eight months following the tragic death of surveyor Ranko Despotović at the construction site of the investor “Mili Company” in Pljevlja, no investigation has been initiated. Despite a prior construction prohibition, the investor has continued operations at the site.

This information is detailed in a criminal complaint submitted to the Higher State Prosecutor’s Office (VDT) in Bijelo Polje by attorney Maja Zeković, who represents Despotović’s family.

In her complaint, Zeković expresses her expectation that an investigation will commence promptly, stating, “It is abundantly clear from the existing evidence that reasonable suspicion for criminal offenses that are prosecuted ex officio exists.” She warned that “any further delays in opening this investigation would constitute a direct violation of the law by the relevant prosecutor’s office.”

“This is particularly concerning in a case involving a fatality at a construction site where operations are prohibited, yet are still unlawfully conducted today due to the Higher Prosecutor’s Office in Bijelo Polje’s failure to meet essential legal obligations arising from their official duties,” the report asserts.

Besides the investor and the managing director of “Mili Company,” Zeković has lodged complaints against various other responsible individuals, including the contractor, the executive director, the designer, and those involved in the auditing and supervision of the project.

The identities of all involved parties are known to the editorial team.

Despotović tragically lost his life last summer at the construction site owned by “Mili Company” in Pljevlja. According to a report from the Pljevlja Basic State Prosecutor’s Office (ODT), a landslide occurred on July 10, burying Despotović, who was present to assess the site’s elevations for the building.

Previous inquiries sent to “Mili Company” went unanswered.

Earlier this year, the Bijelo Polje VDT informed “Vijesti” that they found no grounds for prosecuting anyone for criminal offenses related to Despotović’s death and returned the case to the Pljevlja Basic Prosecutor’s Office.

In late 2024, the Pljevlja ODT stated that “necessary measures and actions are underway to ascertain all facts influencing a lawful decision” regarding the incident.

On March 14, attorney Maja Zeković filed a new criminal complaint with the State Prosecutor’s Office in Bijelo Polje against several individuals due to reasonable suspicion of their shared responsibility for committing offenses prosecutable ex officio, particularly a serious offense against public safety under Article 338, paragraph 2, along with the improper execution of construction works under Article 330, paragraph 1:

“From April 12, 2024, the responsible entities at the construction site located on cadastral plot 1955/1 KO Pljevlja UP 131 DUP Centar I, Municipality of Pljevlja, were aware that their actions or inactions could lead to a serious incident. They knowingly neglected to adhere to safety regulations and construction standards, placing the life of the deceased, Ranko Despotović, in jeopardy,” the report, which “Vijesti” accessed, notes. Despotović died on July 10, 2024, at approximately 17:23 due to the landslide.

“Work continued despite explicit bans on further construction and orders to secure the foundation pit—urgent rehabilitation measures mandated by urban planning and construction inspectors—detailed in decision number UPI 09-042/24-738/1 dated May 7, 2024, as well as a prohibition on all construction works issued on July 16, 2024, which violated Articles 91 and 92 of the Law on Spatial Planning and Construction of Facilities,” the report continued.

The Bijelo Polje VDT is expected to expedite the processing of this complaint:

“I will also consider the deplorable and inhumane conduct of the accused parties towards the family of the deceased Ranko Despotović, whose husband and father was killed due to circumstances beyond their control, for which the suspects bear responsibility. The urgency of action on this complaint is underscored by the fact that work continued post the July 16, 2024 ban and that construction activities are still ongoing today, despite the fatal outcomes that followed the prohibition,” the complaint stated.

Zeković also highlighted the prosecutor’s inaction in this specific case, noting that the available facts and evidence suggesting reasonable suspicion regarding the reported individuals are abundantly clear and justified.

“Yet, even after eight months since this tragic incident, there has not even been an issuance of an order to initiate an investigation in this matter…” she remarked.

The Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism, and State Property, overseen by Slaven Radunović, previously informed “Vijesti” that a study on the foundation pit’s safety was submitted to the urban planning and construction inspectorate on July 22, just 12 days after the accident occurred.

News