PODGORICA, 02.10.2017 – The High Court in Podgorica has continued today, the trial to Montenegrin investigative journalist Jovo Martinović, one of the accused for international smuggling of narcotics, with listening of telephone records from secret surveillance measures.
Martinović has been charged with two criminal offenses – creating a criminal organization- (Article 401a, paragraph 2, related to paragraph 6 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro), as well as unauthorized production, possession and retail of narcotics (Article 300 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro). He was detained for 14 months in the Remand Prison. Martinović is is the first case of journalist being suspected for criminal act related to organized crime.
Martinović claims that he is innocent and that he was arrested while on duty. This was also confirmed by French production company CAPA Presse, which immediately after Martinović’s arrest had confirmed that he was covering a story for them, and that was the reason why he was connected with the accused Duško Martinović. They also confirmed that they were familiar with all details.
Today’s continuation of the main hearing was focused on listening of records of telephone conversations of Duško Martinović. Records and SMS messages were provided to the High Court by the Special Prosecutor’s Office and the Croatian Uskok. The hearing will be continued on 6th of November, 2017.
