Experts testify on fruit trees at Katnić family property and construction dates of buildings in Novo Selo and Barjamovica
Today's hearing in the trial of former Chief Special Prosecutor Milivoje Katnić, former senior police official Zoran Lazović and suspended Special Prosecutor Saša Čađenović was marked by expert testimony concerning the fruit orchard at the Katnić family estate, including cherry, walnut and fig trees, as well as the size and construction dates of buildings in Novo Selo and Barjamovica.
Before the trial panel presided over by Judge Veljko Radovanović, the court heard testimony from agricultural expert Zoran Jovović and geodetic expert Lazar Vukadinović.
Lazović, Katnić and Čađenović are accused of using their official positions to benefit the Kavač organised crime group, allegations they have denied.
In addition to the criminal investigation, the prosecution also launched a financial investigation against Katnić. The High Court ruled that the Katnić family's property in Novo Selo had been acquired unlawfully, while assets owned by the family in Barjamovica remain frozen pending the outcome of the proceedings.
Neither prosecutor Miloš Šoškić nor Katnić raised objections to the findings presented by agricultural expert Jovović.
- I determined the value of each type of plant - apple trees, cherry trees, fig trees and others. I did not examine whether they had been purchased as seedlings or grown from propagation - Jovović told the court.
Katnić said that around 50 per cent of the orchard had been cultivated from his own propagation.
He also explained that he had planted pine and fir trees in 2017 and 2018.
Geodetic expert Vukadinović stated that he had not assessed ownership of the buildings located on the Katnić family properties in Novo Selo and Barjamovica, nor determined who owned them, as this did not fall within his area of expertise.
After Katnić showed him several photographs of the Barjamovica property, Vukadinović said the images indicated that construction of one of the buildings had already begun by 25 September 2018, with the foundations visible in the photograph presented to him.
- The level of construction appears to be similar to what can be seen in March 2019 - the expert concluded.