Reversed acquittal in case of break-in in the warehouse of the High Court in Podgorica
The Higher Court in Belgrade has overturned the acquittal verdict in the case of the tunnel breach at the High Court warehouse in Podgorica, known as 'The Tunnel,' and sent the case back to the Basic Court in Podgorica for retrial. In September 2023, a 30-meter underground tunnel was discovered connecting a basement apartment in central Podgorica to the High Court's warehouse, where over 100,000 pieces of evidence were stored, along with significant amounts of drugs and weapons. During the investigation, many procedural errors were noted, and the tunnel was quickly concrete-sealed, preventing reconstruction of the events. The main suspected motive was the theft of seized drugs. Although then-President of the High Court Boris Savić claimed 'almost nothing is missing,' a months-long inventory revealed some documents were indeed missing. However, suspicions about former Prime Minister Dritan Abazović regarding the possible theft of the gun used to kill journalist Duško Jovanović were not confirmed. The first-instance judgment acquitted several individuals, including Veljko Marković, Milan Marković, Dejan Jovanović, Vladimir Erić, Predrag Mirotić, and Nikola Milačić, of charges related
In a significant legal development, the Higher Court in Bijelo Polje has overturned the acquittal verdict in the case known as "Tunnel," which involves the alleged theft of evidence from the High Court's warehouse in Podgorica, Montenegro. The court has returned the case to the Basic Court in Podgorica for retrial. This decision comes after a detailed review of the initial ruling, which had cleared several individuals of charges related to organized crime and theft. The reversal marks a pivotal moment in this high-profile legal matter, raising new questions about the integrity of the judicial process and the handling of critical evidence.
The case, dubbed "Tunnel," centers around the discovery of a 30-meter underground passage leading from a basement apartment in Njegoševa Street to the High Court’s warehouse in Podgorica. This tunnel was uncovered in September 2023 when a court employee noticed a hole in the wall. Investigators quickly determined that the breach allowed intruders to access the warehouse where thousands of pieces of evidence were stored, including documents related to cases against members of criminal gangs. The tunnel was reportedly sealed off shortly after its discovery, preventing further investigation into how the breach occurred and what exactly was taken.
At the time of the incident, the head of the High Court, Boris Savić, claimed that nearly nothing was missing from the warehouse. However, subsequent inventory checks revealed discrepancies, indicating that some documents and evidence were indeed missing. Despite these findings, there remains uncertainty regarding whether specific items, such as a firearm used in the murder of Dan Duško Jovanović, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper Dan, were among those stolen. Former Prime Minister Dritan Abazović had previously expressed suspicion about this possibility.
The initial trial concluded with the acquittal of six defendants—Veljko Marković, Milan Marković, Dejan Jovanović, Vladimir Erić, Predrag Mirotić, and Nikola Milačić—on charges of organized crime and theft. Additionally, Katarina Baćović was acquitted of charges involving organized crime, theft, and document forgery, while Marijan Vuljaj was cleared of aiding in the commission of a criminal act after it had been carried out. These acquittals were based on the assertion that there was insufficient evidence to prove their involvement in the crimes they faced.
However, the Higher Court in Bijelo Polje found fault with the lower court’s reasoning. It stated that the conclusions drawn by the Basic Court did not result from a comprehensive and critical evaluation of all available evidence, nor did they adequately address the defenses presented by the accused, particularly Baćović and Vuljaj. As a result, the higher court deemed it necessary to overturn the acquittal and send the case back for retrial, emphasizing that the factual situation had not been fully and properly established.
This development has reignited public interest in the case, which initially captured widespread attention due to the gravity of the alleged theft and the potential implications for ongoing criminal investigations. The tunnel’s existence and the manner in which it was discovered have raised concerns about security measures within the judiciary and the vulnerability of sensitive information. Furthermore, the fact that the tunnel was sealed off before a thorough examination could take place has fueled speculation about possible cover-ups or negligence.
As the case moves forward, legal experts anticipate a more rigorous examination of the evidence and testimonies. The retrial will likely involve a deeper scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding the tunnel’s construction, the identities of those who might have had access to the area, and the extent of the damage caused by the breach. Given the complexity of the case and the high stakes involved, the outcome of the retrial could have far-reaching consequences for the individuals implicated and the broader perception of judicial integrity in Montenegro.
With the case now set for a second round of proceedings, all parties involved—prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the accused—are preparing for a potentially lengthy and intense legal battle. The retrial presents an opportunity to clarify many of the unanswered questions surrounding the incident, although it also introduces new uncertainties about what might emerge during the process. As the legal system grapples with this challenge, the public continues to await developments that could shed light on one of the most controversial episodes in recent judicial history.
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The Higher Court in Bijelo Polje has overturned the first-instance acquittal ruling in the case known as 'Tunel,' accepting the appeal by the State Prosecution Office in Podgorica and sending the case back to the Basic Court in Podgorica for retrial. The tunnel, approximately 30 meters long, was dug from a rented apartment near the Higher Court to the court's warehouse, where around 100,000 items, including evidence, drugs, weapons, ammunition, and explosives, are stored. It was discovered on September 11, 2023, after staff noticed misplaced items in the warehouse area. The first-instance ruling had acquitted six individuals—Veljko Marković, Milan Marković, Dejan Jovanović, Vladimir Erić, Predrag Mirotić, and Nikola Milačić—of charges related to criminal association and theft, as well as Katarina Baćović of criminal association, theft, and forgery, and Marijan Vuljaj of aiding a perpetrator after the crime. The Higher Court stated that the factual and legal conclusions of the first-instance court were incomplete and not based on a comprehensive review of all evidence or the defense arguments, particularly those of Katarina Baćović and Marijan Vuljaj. The Basic Court in Podgorica, a
Bias read (Center): The article presents the judicial decision neutrally, focusing on the procedural aspects of the case and the reasoning provided by the Higher Court. There is no evident ideological framing, loaded language, or one-sided sourcing. The content is primarily factual, detailing the legal process and the
Why these scores (Factual 98 · Objective 90): This article accurately summarizes the revocation of the acquittal ruling, citing the higher court’s decision to return the case to the lower court. The content matches the cross-source consensus and presents facts neutrally without overt bias.
Telegraf.rsParty-alignedCenterFactual 96Objective 887 days ago
The Higher Court in Bijelo Polje has overturned the acquittal ruling in the case known as 'Tunnel' and sent the matter back to the Basic Court in Podgorica for retrial. The decision was made after reviewing the appeal by the State Prosecution Office in Podgorica, which challenged the acquittals granted by the Basic Court in October of last year. The original verdict had cleared six individuals—Veljko Marković, Milan Marković, Dejan Jovanović, Vladimir Erić, Predrag Mirotić, and Nikola Milačić—of charges related to criminal association and theft, while Katarina Baćović was acquitted of similar charges plus document forgery, and Marijan Vuljaj was cleared of aiding after a crime. The Higher Court stated that the factual findings and legal conclusions of the lower court were insufficiently supported by evidence and did not logically justify the acquittals, necessitating a retrial. The 'Tunnel' case involves the discovery of an underground passage leading to the archives of the Higher Court in Podgorica, uncovered in September 2023, which led to the disappearance or damage of numerous pieces of evidence.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a judicial decision regarding a high-profile legal case involving alleged criminal activity and the handling of evidence. It presents the court's reasoning for overturning the previous acquittals and sending the case back for retrial, without showing clear favoritism toward or
Why these scores (Factual 96 · Objective 88): The article accurately describes the revocation of the acquittal ruling in the 'Tunnel' case and includes relevant legal terms and names. It maintains a relatively neutral tone but uses more emotionally charged language than some other sources, slightly affecting objectivity.
N1 SrbijaIndependentCenterFactual 95Objective 857 days ago
The Higher Court in Belgrade has overturned the acquittal verdict in the case of the tunnel breach at the High Court warehouse in Podgorica, known as 'The Tunnel,' and sent the case back to the Basic Court in Podgorica for retrial. In September 2023, a 30-meter underground tunnel was discovered connecting a basement apartment in central Podgorica to the High Court's warehouse, where over 100,000 pieces of evidence were stored, along with significant amounts of drugs and weapons. During the investigation, many procedural errors were noted, and the tunnel was quickly concrete-sealed, preventing reconstruction of the events. The main suspected motive was the theft of seized drugs. Although then-President of the High Court Boris Savić claimed 'almost nothing is missing,' a months-long inventory revealed some documents were indeed missing. However, suspicions about former Prime Minister Dritan Abazović regarding the possible theft of the gun used to kill journalist Duško Jovanović were not confirmed. The first-instance judgment acquitted several individuals, including Veljko Marković, Milan Marković, Dejan Jovanović, Vladimir Erić, Predrag Mirotić, and Nikola Milačić, of charges related
Bias read (Center): The article presents the legal decision by the Higher Court to overturn the acquittal and send the case back for retrial. It provides factual information about the tunnel breach, the investigation findings, and the court's reasoning without apparent bias toward any side. The language remains neutral
Why these scores (Factual 95 · Objective 85): The article provides detailed information about the revocation of an acquittal ruling in the 'Tunnel' case, including the timeline, legal reasoning from the higher court, and specific names of individuals involved. It aligns closely with the cross-source consensus, though some minor details may lack
KurirParty-alignedCenterFactual 94Objective 827 days ago
The Higher Court in Bijelo Polje has overturned an acquittal decision in the 'Tunnel' case and returned the matter to the Basic Court in Podgorica for retrial. The initial ruling had acquitted several individuals accused of criminal association and serious theft, while others received conditional release. The Higher Court ruled that the factual findings and legal conclusions from the first instance were incomplete and lacked proper evaluation of evidence and defense arguments, particularly those of Katarina Baćović and Marijan Vuljaj. The case involves a tunnel discovered in September 2023 leading from a residence in Podgorica to the court’s evidence depot, where critical evidence was missing or damaged. This incident has reignited public interest in the case, which initially gained attention three years ago when authorities believed documents had been tampered with.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual recounting of judicial proceedings and does not take a clear ideological stance. It reports on the legal process, the overturning of a previous verdict, and the implications of the tunnel discovery without overtly favoring any political group or ideology. While the 'T'
Why these scores (Factual 94 · Objective 82): The article accurately conveys the revocation of the acquittal ruling and returns the case to the lower court. However, it contains some formatting issues and incomplete sentences, which slightly reduce clarity and neutrality.
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