Montenegrin prosecutors investigate accomplices of fugitive Miloš Medenica

Montenegrin prosecutors are continuing their investigation into individuals suspected of helping Miloš Medenica evade justice before his sentencing. Medenica, who was convicted in absentia, fled the country in late January. The Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica is examining the case involving Nemanja Mučalica and Saša Laković, who are accused of assisting him.

According to reports, Mučalica and Laković allegedly helped Medenica violate a court order that prohibited him from leaving his residence. This order was in place after his release from pre-trial detention due to the expiration of the legal period for indictment without a verdict. Mučalica and Laković were arrested in late April but were later released after appearing before an investigating judge.

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Regarding your questions, we inform you that the case is in the investigation phase. The investigating state prosecutor is taking all legally prescribed measures and actions, and for the protection of the interests of the procedure, it is not possible to disclose more details at this time.

Laković is suspected of providing Medenica with a place to stay the night before his sentencing. Mučalica is accused of driving Medenica to another location on the day the verdict was to be announced. Mučalica claimed in his statement that he knew Medenica from the neighborhood but they were not close friends. He stated Medenica appeared at his house with a travel bag and asked for a ride, and that he was unaware Medenica was violating a court order.

Miloš Medenica was sentenced to a combined 10 years and two months in prison for creating a criminal organization involved in cigarette smuggling and drug trafficking, as well as for illegal influence peddling. He was also fined 50,000 euros and ordered to pay over 2.7 million euros in damages to the state budget. His mother, Vesna Medenica, the former president of the Supreme Court, received a ten-year sentence for illegal influence, bribery, and influencing court decisions.

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Medenica appeared with a travel bag in front of his house and asked to be transferred. He claimed that he did not know that he had violated the measure of leaving the apartment and that the first-instance decision was supposed to be announced that day.