Podgorica, (MINA) – The Bijelo Polje High Court has upheld the appeal filed by the Podgorica Basic State Prosecutor’s Office (ODT) in the case known as the “Tunel”, overturned the first-instance verdict and sent the case back for retrial.

 

According to the press release from the Bjelo Polje High Court, the first instance court had acquitted defendants Veljko Markovic, Milan Markovic, Dejan Jovanovic, Vladimir Eric, Predrag Mirotic and Nikola Milacic of the criminal offense of criminal association in connection with aggravated theft in complicity.

 

The press release recalls that the defendant Katarina Bacovic was acquitted on the same legal basis of charges of criminal association in connection with aggravated theft in complicity and document forgery.

 

Under the same verdict, the defendant Marijan Vuljaj was acquitted of the charge of assisting perpetrators after the criminal offense had been committed.

 

According to the High Court, the factual findings and legal conclusion of the first-instance court that it has not been proven that the defendants committed the criminal offences with which they were charged.

 

“Because the factual situation was fully and properly determined, the reasoning provided by the first-instance court is not based on a comprehensive and critical assessment of all the evidence presented, nor do they represent a logical and convincing basis for the factual conclusions reached”, the press release concludes.

 

In September 2023, a tunnel was dug to the High Court evidence depot from an apartment in Njegoseva Street in Podgorica.

 

After the tunnel was discovered, the High Court in Podgorica announced that a large number of items had been taken from the depot, while subsequent inventory established which evidence was missing or had been damaged.