Strahinja Koprivica sentenced to eight and a half years in prison
Strahinja Koprivica from Nikšić has been sentenced at first instance by the High Court in Podgorica to eight and a half years in prison. Following the delivery of the verdict, his pre-trial detention was extended.
Co-defendant Nikola Vukotić was sentenced to four years in prison, Blažo Đurković to three years and three months, Marinko Koprivica to three years, while Igor Krstović received a first-instance sentence of two years and two months' imprisonment.
In addition to the prison sentence, Strahinja Koprivica was fined €75,000 and ordered to pay €173,775 into the state budget, representing the proceeds that, according to the judgment, he obtained through the commission of criminal offences. Nikola Vukotić was also fined €20,000.
Blažo Đurković received a fine of €5,000.
Igor Krstović was fined €25,000.
Marinko Koprivica was likewise fined €25,000.
The first-instance judgment was delivered by a judicial panel presided over by Judge Boris Bulatović.
Judge Bulatović stated that the verdict was primarily based on communications exchanged via the Sky ECC encrypted messaging platform, which the High Court and the Court of Appeals have, in several final judgments, recognized as legally admissible evidence. He added that the judgment was also based on other material evidence and the results of international legal assistance.
Defence lawyers for the convicted defendants announced that they would appeal the judgment to the Court of Appeals.
Following the pronouncement of the verdict, the court extended the detention of all defendants.
The Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT) indicted Strahinja and Marinko Koprivica, Nikola Vukotić, and Blažo Đurković on reasonable suspicion of having committed the criminal offence of forming a criminal organization.
Strahinja Koprivica, Đurković, Vukotić and Krstović were also charged with the criminal offence of unauthorized production, possession, and trafficking of narcotic drugs. The indictment additionally charges Strahinja and Marinko Koprivica with two counts of smuggling, while Strahinja Koprivica also faces two counts of illegal trade.
According to the Special State Prosecutor's Office, the criminal organization was established by Strahinja Koprivica in early 2019 and operated in Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia until April 2021. The prosecution alleges that Nikola Vukotić, Blažo Đurković, Marinko Koprivica, and several other unidentified individuals became members of the organization.