Jovanović: Decision in Nastić, Mijajlović and others case shows the court’s true strength

The defence is satisfied with the decision of the High Court in Podgorica’s out-of-court panel, which dismissed the indictment against businessman Aleksandar Mijajlović, Higher State Prosecutor Andrijana Nastić, police officials Milovan Pavićević, Drago Spičanović and Vladan Lazović and politician Predrag Bošković due to insufficient evidence. This decision demonstrates the true strength of the competent court, as well as its autonomy and independence, since the defence has from the very beginning pointed out that this was a case that would ultimately show just how independent the court really is - Nastić’s defence lawyer, attorney Stefan Jovanović, told ETV Portal.

He believes the decision was expected, given that the High Court panel had previously returned the indictment to the competent prosecution service for supplementation or revision.

- In doing so, it gave the prosecution an opportunity to remedy certain deficiencies that, in fact, could not be remedied, given the factual circumstances and the evidence contained in the case file - Jovanović said.

He added that, considering the evidence in the case, there was no basis for any other decision, which the court itself confirmed: there was no evidence capable of substantiating the prosecution’s allegations.

- This decision is all the more significant when we bear in mind that this proceedings was colloquially presented as a „mini coup“, because the allegations were extremely serious and the defendants were accused of serious criminal offences. Of course, the prosecution has the right to appeal, but the defence does not expect a different assessment or finding by the appellate court, given what is contained in the case file and what emerged from the investigation - attorney Jovanović pointed out.

Asked to comment on tomorrow’s hearing on the review of the indictment, in which businessman Mijajlović is allegedly linked to drug smuggling, and given that Jovanović is one of his defence lawyers, Jovanović said that the indictment that will be „subject to tomorrow’s review“ is „even worse“ in terms of the evidentiary material and the prosecution’s allegations than the proceedings that has now been discontinued.

The High Court said today that the case file contains no evidence that Aleksandar Mijajlović organized a criminal organization by „personally recruiting and involving Predrag Bošković, Drago Spičanović, Vladan Lazović, Milovan Pavićević and Andrijana Nastić, as well as other, as yet unidentified persons, in the criminal organization through the use of Viber and WhatsApp communication platforms for the purpose of carrying out a criminal plan, nor is there evidence that he assigned them roles and tasks, or that they accepted them“.