“The facts in this criminal matter have been fully and properly established. In this sense, the first instance court correctly concluded that there was a reasonable suspicion that the defendant Svetozar Marovic had committed a continued criminal offense of abuse of office by inciting and in an organised manner, as well as that the investigation during the detention course was not completed due to objective reasons. In the further course of the investigation, it is necessary to question the witnesses proposed by special act of the State Prosecutor’s Office in Podgorica who are likely to be able to provide information on the criminal offense the defendant has been reasonably suspected of. Therefore, the circumstances indicate that potential release of the defendant would obstruct the proceedings by influencing witnesses,” the Appellate Court explained.
Also, as it stated, it is necessary to extend Marovic’s detention because the offense for which he has been accused is serious, having in mind the manner of its execution and its consequences.
“It is a criminal offense that can be sentenced up to 10 years imprisonment according to the law, so the detention is necessary to ensure the unhindered conducting criminal procedure,” the Appellate Court said.
Lawyer Zdravko Begovic said he would wait until the hearings are ended.
“I have information from the Prosecutor’s Office that the hearings should begin as early as this week, so I will react after that in relation to the rights of my client,” Begovic said.
Marovic has been suspected of abusing his office in cases of TQ Plaza, Jaz and Prijevor, which have recently been merged into one case by Special Prosecutor’s Office. As it is suspected, the defendants in this case cost the budget of the Municipality of Budva €11,400,000.
