The High Court in Podgorica has made public a video of the reading of charges and the guilty pleas from the trial involving Chief Special Prosecutor Milivoj Katnić, his deputy Sasa Čađenović, and former Assistant Director of the Police for Combating Organized Crime, Zoran Lazović, which commenced today.

The court accuses them of offenses linked to organized crime, with Katnić, Čađenović, and Lazović all pleading not guilty to the charges brought against them.

After their statements, the presiding judge Veljko Radovanović called for a recess.

The pre-trial panel of the Higher Court in Podgorica confirmed the indictment from the Special State Prosecutor’s Office (SDT), which charges Lazović with establishing a criminal organization as outlined in Article 401a, paragraph 1, in conjunction with paragraph 6 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro. He is also accused of abusing his official position under Article 416, paragraph 1, and additional charges of money laundering and illegal possession and carrying of weapons and explosives.

Defendant Katnić faces charges under Article 401a, paragraph 2, related to the creation of a criminal organization, along with two offenses of abusing official capacity and illegal possession of weapons and explosives. The panel believes that the evidence provided in the indictment supports reasonable suspicion that Lazović and Katnić committed the alleged crimes.

In October of the previous year, the SDT lodged an indictment against Lazović and Katnić, alleging the creation of a criminal organization, abuse of power, extensive money laundering, and illegal possession of weapons.

Lazović is accused of leading a criminal organization in 2020, which included Katnić, Čađenović, and other unidentified individuals, collaborating with the Kavač clan led by the estranged Radoje Zvicer.

The former GST is accused of misusing his position in January 2022, alongside prosecutor Čađenović, to benefit individuals associated with the criminal organization, including Petar Lazović, police officers Ljubo Milović, Radoje Zvicer, Duško Roganović, and seven other members.

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