Recently, the Podgorica Basic Court returned the indictment to the Basic State Prosecutor’s Office (ODT) for further processing. Miljana Pavličić, the former assistant director of the Institute of Public Health, has been given two months to complete the investigation.

As reported by “Vijesti”, Judge Borko Lončar requested that the prosecution clarify the documentation basis for Pavličić’s employment and the contracts she signed to evaluate potential shortcomings by the Institute of Public Health (IJZ) officials or whether Pavličić misled them.

The Podgorica ODT is also tasked with gathering evidence regarding Pavličić’s position before and after the allegations to determine if there is reasonable suspicion related to the significant elements of the extended fraud offense—specifically the damage done to a healthcare institution.

The prosecution filed a criminal case last November after “Vijesti” reported that Miljana Pavličić held various high-ranking positions based on a forged college diploma from the Faculty of Chemistry at the University of Belgrade. In January, Prosecutor Marija Kazic submitted an indictment against Pavličić for the crime of fraud in extended duration.

Pavličić had previously received a suspended sentence in 2014 for falsifying information about her graduation from the Faculty of Chemistry at the University of Belgrade. The Basic Court in Podgorica clarified that this conviction did not reach the IJZ because Pavličić stated during the trial that she was not employed. However, employment records indicate that she held her position at the IJZ from 2010 to 2023.

Judge Lončar reportedly remarked in his ruling on the ambiguity surrounding the documentation Pavličić provided during her employment, particularly regarding the contracts and annexes. Sources for “Vijesti” allege that he requested clarity on what evidence the IJZ officials considered as proof of her qualifications and whether Pavličić pursued recognition for her foreign educational credentials.

Previous reports from “Vijesti” indicated that the assistant director of the Public Health Institute forged a validation decision from the Ministry of Education regarding her diploma and presented it to her employer.

The court emphasized the need for the prosecution to determine whether Pavličić had formally requested recognition of her foreign diploma and whether such requests were submitted when she was employed, and to assess the implications if such requests were missing in relation to the documentation that could have misled the IJZ.

Unofficial sources also noted that the court highlighted that the inquiry had not clarified whether the position Pavličić held from 2014 to 2023 was formally established, as claimed by the former director, Igor Galić.

The prosecution needs to obtain internal job classification documents from the disputed period to verify if the position of Pavličić existed prior to and following the indictment and to assess if the IJZ suffered financial losses from the salaries paid to her.

During the indictment review at the Podgorica Basic Court, Pavličić’s defense attorney, Ljubiša Novaković, remarked that she “is not proud of how she entered that institution, but once there, she committed fully to her responsibilities.” He also claimed she “could not have deceived the state, as it had already found her guilty of document forgery.”

Pavličić began her career at the Institute of Public Health in 2010, initially serving as an intern in the laboratories testing food quality and environmental samples. By September 2011 to February 2018, she advanced to the role of analyst, tasked with determining quality parameters in food and ensuring compliance with testing standards. Since 2018, she has also overseen adherence to ISO 17025 standards at the healthcare institution.

This standard is crucial for laboratories, enabling them to implement a comprehensive quality system and demonstrating their capability to produce valid and reliable results. Consequently, test reports from accredited laboratories can be universally recognized without further testing.

Pavličić additionally chaired the Commission for Accreditation of Health Institutions, established by the Ministry of Health.

Judge Lončar reiterated the need for the prosecution to establish what documentation Pavličić had submitted upon hiring, and the nature of the contracts she later signed, based on information received from “Vijesti”. He requested further investigation into how the Public Health Institute validated her qualifications and whether she underwent proper procedures for her foreign degree recognition.

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