Podgorica, (MINA) - The Appellate Court has overturned the verdict of the Special Division of the Podgorica High Court in the case known as “Apartments” and returned the case to the first-instance court for a retrial.

The first-instance verdict had acquitted the officials of the former government, Predrag Boskovic, Suad Numanovic, Budimir Segrt, Sanja Vlahovic, Ivan Brajovic, Drazen Milickovic, Damir Sehovic, Dragica Sekulic, Osman Nurkovic, Suzana Pribilovic, Jelena Radonjic and Aleksandar Jovicevic of charges of extended abuse of office, as it was not proven that they had committed the criminal offense.

According to the press release by the Appellate Court, the court accepted the appeals of the Special State Prosecutor’s Office (SDT) and the Protector of Property and Legal Interests of Montenegro, and the decision to overturn the verdict was made after a secret deliberation and vote held on March 3.

The Appellate Court assessed that the appeals of the SDT and the Protector of Property and Legal Interests of Montenegro were well-founded, concluding that the first-instance court committed a significant violation of the criminal procedure provisions.