The trial for a group accused of various criminal offenses resumed today with a discussion between defense attorney Zdravko Begović and special prosecutor Jovan Vukotić regarding the alleged manipulation of the contents from the confiscated mobile phone of former Supreme Court President Vesna Medenica.

Begović, the legal representative of Medenica, claimed that the contents of her phone were tampered with when it was seized at the Special Police Department (SPO).

“This was also noted by prosecutor Jovan Vukotić, present here,” remarked Begović, reminding attendees that Vukotić stated during the hearing on December 20, 2023, that “someone in the police deleted Signal and Telegram, leading the National Security Agency (ANB) to attempt recovering the deleted applications.”

Vukotić confirmed his previous statement but emphasized that only the individual with the phone’s password could delete those applications, and at that time, Medenica was the only one with access.

Medenica conveyed that on April 17, 2022, after 10:30 PM, she arrived at the SPO and remained there until the early hours. She reported that her phone was confiscated during this time, with documentation indicating that she did not provide the phone’s code.

“I provided the code to the prosecutor’s office nine days later, on April 26 of that year,” stated Medenica.

She asserted that due to the alleged tampering of her phone’s content, she filed a criminal complaint with the Basic State Prosecutor’s Office (ODT), targeting an unidentified individual for hacking her phone and misusing an official position.

“…This complaint was dismissed by the ODT without action, prompting the Higher State Prosecutor’s Office (VDT) to order an investigation, which is currently in its preliminary phase.”

The court has decided to hear testimony from Marija Medenica, the daughter of the former President of the Supreme Court, who was present during the search of Vesna Medenica’s residence. Additionally, lawyer Marija Šofranac and three police officers who participated in the search will also provide testimony.

According to Medenica’s defense attorney, Begović, the former president was absent during the search of her home in the Podgorica neighborhood of Zagorič.

“The Criminal Procedure Code stipulates that a search warrant must be presented to the sole property owner prior to the search, but Vesna Medenica was never served this warrant,” Begović stated.

He raised questions about the discovery of a Basic Court ruling relevant to the company “Cijevna komerc” during the search, suggesting that its sudden appearance amidst various documents raised concerns of potential plant during the operation.

Begović further argued that the picture of the verdict found in the case files lacks context, specifically the surrounding environment in which it was taken.

“I propose that this search be deemed legally invalid evidence,” suggested Begović.

Prosecutor Vukotic expressed opposition to this decision, citing concerns over Marija Medenica’s potential bias and the possibility that she might “testify favorably towards her mother under specific legal guidance.”

This concludes the introduction of written evidence in today’s proceedings.

The Special State Prosecutor’s Office has charged defendants Miloš and Vesna Medenica, Darko Lalović, Vasilije Petrović, Bojan and Marko Popović, Marko Vučinić, Milorad Medenica, Luka Bakoč, Petar Milutinović, Ivana Kovačević, Radomir Raičević, Marjan Bevenja, Stevo Karanikić, Goran Jovanović, and the company “Kopad Company” with offenses including forming a criminal organization, smuggling, influence peddling, misuse of official position, drug trafficking, illegal possession of weapons, serious bodily harm, and obstructing the production of evidence.

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