Krunić: We checked information on whether Milović planned to buy a bank, Katnić never asked me to alter any document

Jovanka Krunić, an associate at the Special State Prosecutor’s Office who was in charge of financial investigations, told the High Court that former Chief Special Prosecutor Milivoje Katnić had never asked her to alter a document or conceal anything for any member of the „Kavač“ or „Škaljari“ criminal clans. As she stated, she only received positive guidance, and Katnić was involved in the most complex investigations.

In her testimony at the trial of Katnić, former senior police official Zoran Lazović, and suspended prosecutor Saša Čađenović, Krunić also said that in a single year more than 200 individuals from criminal clans had been checked.

- More than 90 individuals from the „Kavač“ clan and over 80 from the „Škaljari“ clan were prosecuted - Krunić said. She added that she worked on almost all of those cases with prosecutor Saša Čađenović.

Krunić further explained that prior to 2022, while Katnić was serving as Chief Special Prosecutor, she received operational information that Ljubo Milović was planning to purchase a bank in Montenegro or to act as an intermediary in such a purchase.

- I am not certain whether he was purchasing the bank or mediating the transaction. We were supposed to monitor whether a sale would take place, but it was never realized. I believe Ukrainian nationals were also involved - Krunić said.

She stated that she was not sure whether she received this information from Katnić, from the head of the Special Police Department Dragan Radonjić, or from Čađenović.

Before the judicial panel presided over by Judge Veljko Radovanović, Krunić said that during her questioning at the SSPO she had been presented with a document related to Ljubo Milović, which had been created under her account under the title „Milovići“.

- That document was created in September 2022, and the most logical conclusion is that the order came from Special Prosecutor Zoran Vučinić - Krunić explained.

Vučinić instructed her to check a financial transaction exceeding 40 million euros, and according to the witness, she was tasked with obtaining information on whether the transaction had been carried out.

In response to Katnić’s question, she said they were unable to locate the funds, but they did receive guidance on where the money might have originated.

She said she does not know the outcome of those checks, as her colleagues continued working on the case while she was assigned to other matters.

Krunić explained that she conducted the checks based on information from publicly available sources.

- These data served as signposts for further searches and verifications - the witness emphasized.

Prosecutor Miloš Šoškić requested that the judicial panel prohibit Katnić from asking questions related to details of the Ljubo Milović case, as the matter is still active and such questioning could jeopardize the investigation.

Šoškić believes that Krunić’s testimony refuted Katnić’s defense that he had worked on the Milović case, as that case was not opened until July 19, 2022, and that „10, 15, or 20 million euros were deposited into Milović’s account“.

Katnić, on the other hand, pointed out that on May 11, 2024, the „Vijesti“ news portal published all data regarding payments that Ukrainians were supposed to transfer via Germany to Ljubo Milović’s account.

- So much for secrecy - Katnić said. He was categorical in stating that his defense had not been refuted, but that he simply could not recall the exact amount of money with precision.

Čađenović also pointed out that he had not been present during the witness’s questioning at the SSPO.

He emphasized that because Krunić worked on the largest number of cases with him, she left open the possibility that she might have received the information about the bank purchase from him. Krunić stated that she was not certain whether she received the operational information from him, Radonjić, or Katnić.

- She did not receive any information about Ljubo Milović from me - Čađenović said.

He stressed that it is undisputed that from 2016 to 2022 a significantly larger number of individuals from the „Kavač“ criminal clan were prosecuted, and that he worked on those cases.

At today’s hearing, Milan Mrvaljević was also heard as a witness. He said that he has been a long-time friend of the Katnić family.

While construction work was being carried out on properties in Barjamovica, a man employed by him delivered stone and soil because he had surplus materials, but he did not do this only for the Katnić family, but also for many people he wanted to help.

- As far as those properties in Barjamovica are concerned, I did not examine the paperwork, but I was told that they are the property of the Katnić family - Mrvaljević testified.

Katnić said that Mrvaljević had spoken truthfully and sincerely, as befits an honest man.

He pointed out that the properties are owned by himself, his two brothers, and his nephew.

The trial will continue on February 10, when former head of the Department for the Fight against Organized Crime Milorad Žižić is scheduled to testify.