Đukanović gives statement at the Basic State Prosecutor’s Office: I don’t understand how Bogdanović commented on a document the prosecutor only showed me today

Businessman Aco Đukanović said today at the Basic State Prosecutor’s Office that he questioned how Democratic Montenegro MP Boris Bogdanović commented in Parliament on a document which, he claims, was presented to him and his defense for the first time only during questioning before the prosecutor. Đukanović said he sees the entire procedure as pressure and that he was handcuffed because of his surname.

Đukanović was brought from the Investigation Prison in order for authorities to collect information from him regarding an initiative by the Police Directorate to issue a warrant to search the apartment and other premises he uses in Podgorica. A statement was taken from him in the capacity of a citizen by state prosecutor Ivan Bojanić.

- Before you stands a man who, throughout his life, has never possessed anything without valid documentation for it. I am someone who has kept records of all my purchases for nearly 40 years, and I have proof for everything. I am convinced that police officers, during the search, also established that I have documentation relating to my entire business activity as an entrepreneur, and it is located in my apartment, in a separate room where there are several hundred folders about my life and business - Đukanović told the prosecutor.

Speaking about the watches found in his house, Đukanović said they all belong to him and that some are of small value, including one he wore as a high school student.

- That was my first watch and it fell apart when police officers took it out of the box. The watch marked „Nivada“ is a gift worth a few hundred euros, given to me by the owner of the „Nivada“ factory, the late Mr. Vučurović. As far as I remember, Mr. Vučurović gave around 20 such watches to Prva Banka, where in addition to the „Nivada“ mark the engraving „Prva Banka“ appears as the seller - Đukanović said.

Regarding the watch marked „21 May 2006“, Đukanović believes it also came from the Nivada factory, that he received it as a gift, and that it is worth about 100 euros.

- Nivada watches were often given as a token of appreciation for certain anniversaries - Đukanović said, adding that he purchased the other watches himself and that they have sentimental value for him.

Đukanović recalled that in February 2020 a burglary took place in his apartment and that many valuable and important items were stolen at the time.

- At that time I was in hospital undergoing surgery, and I always carry these three watches with me, so I had them with me then. Since the burglary happened while I was in hospital, those three watches remained in my possession. It is possible that documents for those watches were stolen during the burglary, but I can prove ownership, origin, and the purchase date in other ways if necessary or if the documentation is not in my apartment or among the records I keep - Đukanović said.

He added that his legal team would check whether the documentation for the watches still exists in his house or whether it was stolen. If it was stolen, he said he would obtain confirmation directly from the manufacturer proving that he is the owner and that the watches were purchased from an authorized seller.

Đukanović also said that during the burglary all the valuables he had inherited were stolen. According to him, four watches were also taken at that time.

- The watches because of which I am here today, among other things, remained in my possession by chance. For six years now I have been waiting for someone to call me to testify in court regarding that burglary, but to this day nobody has called me - Đukanović said.

Đukanović claims that he first saw the photo documentation and material related to activities on social networks when police officers conducted the search.

- I keep proper records of all documents I possess. This documentation was found in the basement, in a sealed envelope, along with many other envelopes in a closed box. Whoever wrote to me or sent me documents, I always tried to respect them and read them. I claim that I neither opened nor read this envelope, just like many other envelopes found unopened in the same box and opened by police during the search; there were more than a hundred of them. These envelopes had been waiting for a long time because I had been ill with COVID and, due to my health and life obligations, I did not have time to open them - Đukanović said.

He also told the prosecutor that he does not see anything problematic in the documents and claims he has no connection to them.

- I partially saw these documents for the first time when police officers opened that envelope. Today before the prosecutor I looked through them and I do not see anything problematic in them - Đukanović said, stressing that he has never had social media accounts and has never used them.

He also added that he has never financed any activity on social networks.

Đukanović said it was unclear to him how Democratic Montenegro MP Boris Bogdanović could comment on a document that the prosecutor presented to him and his defense only today after the search of his apartment.

- I was angry with my legal team that they were not aware of it, because it does not make sense to me that someone in Parliament debates and shows a document that is part of the prosecutor’s files. I also do not understand how this documentation that was presented to me can be the subject of questioning while the authorities do not react to the writings of Slavko Šaranović, the father of the Minister of Interior, who points to certain events that should be investigated. Considering that I was brought here in handcuffs, under escort, that journalists filmed me, and that I am in detention for an offense for which I have never heard of anyone ever being sent to Spuž, even though I am being questioned here as a citizen, I believe that I was brought here in this manner simply because my surname is Đukanović - he said.