Peković: There was no evidence to arrest Duško Roganović, Čađenović hid nothing

I would be immoral and dishonest if I said that prosecutor Saša Čađenović hid anything regarding Duško Roganović from Herceg Novi, who, according to police operational data, is considered a member of the Kavač criminal clan. There was no evidence against Roganović, otherwise, he would have been arrested. I believe you will not find a single inspector in Herceg Novi who will say there was evidence against Roganović - said former head of the criminal police in Herceg Novi Dragoljub Peković in his witness testimony.

He testified today before the High Court in proceedings initiated by the Special State Prosecutor’s Office against former senior police official Zoran Lazović, retired chief special prosecutor Milivoje Katnić, and suspended prosecutor Saša Čađenović, who are accused of subordinating their positions to the Kavač criminal clan.

- After so many years of work, I would have noticed if Duško Roganović was being deliberately excluded from prosecution. I would have been blind if that had passed me by. Members of both the Škaljari and Kavač clans in Herceg Novi were under covert surveillance measures. Those measures contained no information suggesting Roganović was being protected, because those individuals would have had to speak about it - Peković stated.

He reiterated that in cases involving members of Kavač clan cells in Herceg Novi, there was no evidence against Roganović, adding that this conclusion is based on his many years of police experience.

Peković also referred to his statement given in March 2023 to the Special State Prosecutor’s Office, noting that he was not asked whether anyone had protected Roganović.

- If they had asked me, I would have said what I stated today in court. I cannot say I was abused when giving my statement to the SSPO, but in a way I feel let down - the witness said.

He added that only after his questioning at the SSPO, when media reports about Duško Roganović were published, did he „realize what it was about“.

- I repeat, you cannot find a single employee at the Herceg Novi Security Center who will tell you that anything was hidden regarding Duško Roganović. For years we fought against both clans - Peković emphasized. He added everyone was shocked when they read that Čađenović had been arrested.

Katnić, Lazović, and Čađenović are, among other things, accused of protecting Roganović. Peković said that by that logic, „everyone who worked on that case should have been arrested“.

Responding to Lazović’s question, the witness said they met twice in Herceg Novi - first after the murder of Duško Roganović’s brother, Šćepan Roganović, and second after the killing of Stefan Šarović.

- Lazović provided us with full logistical support in solving those two crimes, inspectors from the Criminal Police Sector and forensic experts from Danilovgrad were brought in - Peković said.

During his service, he added, he never received or had any information that Lazović cooperated with criminal groups.

- Cooperation with the Organized Crime Unit was professional. Lazović never requested that anyone be privileged or excluded from a criminal complaint – Peković said.

Before the judicial panel headed by Veljko Radovanović, Peković also stated that prosecuting members of both the Kavač and Škaljari clans in Herceg Novi halted clashes between the two criminal groups.

- We got a break from the conflicts, and as far as I know, the situation is still the same - Peković said.

In addition to Peković, police officer Draško Kalinić, employed in the Organized Crime Unit, was also questioned today.

Answering Lazović’s questions, Kalinić said he was employed in the sector based on his results and professional work, not personal connections.

- I had no communication with Lazović before joining. We didn’t know each other. We had autonomy in our work, good working conditions, and moved into new premises. Cooperation with Lazović was correct and professional - Kalinić said.

He added that his superior, Lazović, never instructed who should be included in criminal charges.

He also emphasized that he never had any knowledge that Lazović protected members of criminal groups.

Responding to questions from Čađenović, the witness spoke about their cooperation, stating that they never faced obstruction from the prosecutor and that he never slowed them down.

- Our priority was to arrest members of organized criminal groups - Kalinić said.

The trial continues on May 12.