A staff member at a seaside school was responsible for ensuring the safety of students, maintaining the school premises, and addressing issues, including electrical repairs, all using a fraudulent electrician’s diploma.

After being found guilty of falsifying an educational credential by the Podgorica Basic Court, his conviction was finalized, leading to his dismissal.

This was corroborated to our editorial team yesterday by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation (MESI).

“After the verdict was communicated to the employer, the management of the institution took the necessary actions and terminated the employment of the individual in question,” stated the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.

The court also sentenced him to 240 hours of community service, confiscated his counterfeit diploma, and warned of possible imprisonment should he fail to complete the community service.

“…One day of imprisonment is imposed for every eight hours of community service,” the final verdict, which became effective in mid-January, indicated.

“Graduated” after age thirty

In July of the previous year, the former employee sought to validate his diploma from the Belgrade School of Electrical Engineering at the Ministry of Education and Science. According to the diploma, the janitor had graduated high school at over 30 years of age during the 2017/2018 academic year in Belgrade.

Rather than recognizing the document, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications purportedly informed him of its invalidity and referred the case to the Podgorica Basic State Prosecutor’s Office.

“…During the main trial, the defendant admitted guilt, stating that he had never actually been to Belgrade to take any exams. He claimed that by the term ‘regular diploma’, he meant it was filed at the school and could be legally utilized,” as indicated by the verdict reviewed by “Vijesti”.

It is reported that the defendant submitted a request for the nostrification of his diploma to the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, and received a notification about a month later stating that nostrification was denied without explanation, leaving him confused until the prosecutor contacted him.

“After a thorough evaluation of all evidence, the court conclusively established that on July 30, 2024, the defendant used a false educational document as if it were genuine, which he submitted to the Ministry of Education for recognition… Given the defendant’s conscious intent in committing this act, the court concluded he acted with clear intent. He was fully aware of the bogus nature and false content of the diploma, which he knowingly submitted,” the verdict declares.

MPNI: Stricter penalties are essential

Anđela Jakšić-Stojanović’s department confirmed to “Vijesti” that the Basic Court in Podgorica informed them that “the final verdict issued against an employee of an educational institution for the crime of document forgery falls under Article 412, paragraph 2 of the Criminal Code.”

“Following a report from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the court proceedings resulted in a guilty verdict and a sentence of 240 hours of community service for this employee. Once the verdict was sent to the employer for action as per their jurisdiction, the employment of the individual was terminated,” the Ministry of Internal Affairs told “Vijesti”.

They reiterated their strong commitment to combating counterfeit and purchased diplomas.

“We once more urge the involvement of all societal actors and stricter penal policies to collaboratively address one of the most significant challenges facing our society,” they emphasized.

From 2023 until early June of the current year, the Ministry has filed 89 criminal reports for the falsification of educational documents.

According to recent amendments to the Law on Recognition of Foreign Educational Documents and Equalization of Qualifications adopted by the Montenegrin Parliament, the Government may establish a dedicated body to address diplomas obtained outside Montenegro, with all state bodies required to submit educational documents of their employees upon request.

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