N2.T2 – Indictment Control Phase for Tunnel Dug Beneath High Court
HRA NEWSLETTER 2 – TOPIC 2
The hearing scheduled for November 11 in the Basic Court of Podgorica has been postponed due to issues regarding the control of the indictment against individuals suspected of excavating a tunnel leading to the High Court’s depot. This postponement occurs because one of the defendants, Veljko Marković, has not been served with a summons as he is currently evading authorities.
This marks the third adjournment of the hearing concerning the indictment control in a case that has attracted significant public and international attention. The initial attempt on September 24 failed due to improper service of summons to three defendants, followed by a similar outcome on October 11.
On September 9, 2024, a year after the tunnel’s discovery on September 12, 2023, the Basic State Prosecutor’s Office in Podgorica filed an indictment against six individuals charged with criminal association in conjunction with aggravated theft and document falsification. Currently, all suspects remain at large, including Katarina Baćović, the daughter of the manager of the High Court’s registry office at the time of the offense.
The suspects are alleged to have excavated a tunnel in September 2023 that provided access to the court’s evidence depot. While the motive and the orchestrators of the break-in are yet to be determined, investigations have confirmed that items such as weapons, mobile phones, and a limited quantity of illicit drugs were stolen from the depot.
According to previous announcements from the Court, “Eleven mobile phones and 19 firearms were unlawfully appropriated following the breach of the High Court’s depot. Of the firearms, eleven were linked to concluded legal cases, while the remaining eight pertained to ongoing cases before the High Court in Podgorica.
Additionally, small amounts of drugs, including marijuana, heroin, and cocaine, were taken from three concluded cases and two pending cases before the High Court.”
Given the significance of this case to the Montenegrin public and the judicial system as a whole, it is imperative to ensure the procedural efficiency and to keep the public informed about ongoing developments.
English