UNDECLARED PROPERTY SCANDAL ROCKS MONTENEGRO!
Think judges and officials in Montenegro are above the law? Think again! The Anti-Corruption Agency (ASK) has uncovered shocking failures in property declarations involving none other than Vesna Kovačević, a judge at the Higher Court in Podgorica, and Vladimir Đaković, Director of the Food Safety Administration.
Vesna Kovačević and the ‘Missing’ Apartment
ASK found that Kovačević failed to declare the purchase of an apartment for her son within the legally mandated 30-day period, despite the property being worth a whopping €72,000! Kovačević claims she didn’t increase her assets because she merely changed the form of ownership—selling one property and buying another with a mortgage. But the law is crystal clear: all property acquisitions must be declared, no matter how they are financed. The NGO MANS reported this case last year, and ASK dismissed claims of statute of limitations because the investigation only began on June 6, 2023.
Vladimir Đaković’s Patchy Asset Report
Đaković didn’t declare six shares in the HLT fund, a Fiat Punto car, a plot of land in Podgorica, and the purchase of a 72-square-meter apartment registered under his wife’s name. ASK explicitly stated his asset report was incomplete and failed to include all income and property within the legal deadlines.
Why Does This Matter?
These cases reveal that even judges and high-ranking officials in Montenegro flout anti-corruption laws. Property must be declared on time, and failure to do so raises red flags about possible illicit income or corruption. ASK has shown it won’t back down, but how many more such cases lurk in the shadows?
Law and Deadlines – No Excuses!
The anti-corruption law mandates that any changes in assets be reported within 30 days. Kovačević should have declared the apartment by August 22, 2017, but she didn’t. ASK emphasized that the deadlines haven’t expired since the investigation started only on June 6, 2023. So, no dodging the statute of limitations here.
What Do the Accused Say?
Kovačević insists she had no intention to hide anything and declared all assets in her annual reports. Đaković has not responded in the proceedings but clearly violated the law. Will justice be served, or will this be another case swept under the rug?
What’s Next?
ASK has proven it has the guts to scrutinize even top officials. But will institutions and the public have the courage to demand accountability? This case is just the tip of the iceberg. If judges and directors ignore the law, what hope is there for the rest?
Conclusion
Failing to declare assets on time isn’t just a technical slip-up—it’s a serious issue that undermines trust in the judiciary and state institutions. If we want a corruption-free country, accountability must be demanded from everyone, no exceptions.
So, what do you think? Is this just a drop in the ocean or the beginning of the end for irresponsible officials? Drop a comment and let’s get the conversation rolling!
