PODGORICA, 07.02.2025 – The second hearing for the accused in the brutal attack on journalist Ana Raičković from Pobjeda and her family members, which occurred on November 10th of last year in front of the “Gurman” restaurant, was held at the Basic Court in Podgorica. Raičković announced at the hearing that she would join the criminal prosecution against Zoran Bećirović, his son Luka Bećirović, Mladen Mijatović, and Ljubiša Dukić.
The controversial businessman Zoran Bećirović is suspected of brutally attacking Pobjeda journalist Ana Raičković and her family members on November 10th of last year in front of the “Gurman” restaurant, together with his son Luka and bodyguards Mladen Mijatović and Ljubiša Dukić. The journalist stated that on the evening of November 10th, around 9 PM, she went to Gurman to buy a hamburger for her son, as she often does after finishing her work at the editorial office.
“I parked my car in front of Gurman, and while I was getting out, I heard male voices saying ‘op, op, op.’ I didn’t turn around to see who they were. While I was ordering, I heard them mention ‘the late Katnić and Lazović.’ They were loud, and I assumed they had been drinking. Then one of them said, ‘I know you.’ I recognized Bećirović and Mijatović, whom I knew from work. They were saying, ‘Yes, yes, it’s her…’ A waiter from Gurman approached me, they probably called him to confirm that it was indeed me. Then came disgusting insults, saying that I work for the stinky TVE and that I am a paid agent,” Raičković said, adding:
“I said, ‘I will respect your age, we know each other well, don’t speak to me like that,’ to Bećirović. Then Mijatović and Bećirović started with harsh insults… Mijatović and Bećirović verbally attacked me for about 20 minutes. After threatening to crush me, I took my phone and called the police. I don’t remember if I told the police who they were, I don’t think I did, but I’m not sure. In the middle of that, Tomo Arapović called me, but I didn’t answer because of the situation. Then a worker called me to tell me the hamburgers were ready, and I called my son to ask what sides he wanted. I didn’t say anything to my son, but he heard the insults directed at him.”
She further stated that she tried to avoid them as Mijatović repeatedly charged towards her, shouting that he would “break her.”
“When I took my phone to record and asked him to repeat who had been insulting me from TVE for money, Mijatović stood in front of me and said, ‘Who are you going to film?’ He tried to protect Bećirović, who told him, ‘Let her film.’ ‘B****, look at her leather pants,’ they were saying. I got into the car, but Mijatović continued to circle around my car on Bećirović’s orders. Dukić was calming the situation, he didn’t threaten me or show signs of aggression. I was waiting for the police to arrive when my son appeared. I thought about taking food to my son and pretending nothing happened, but my son beat me to it. Uroš opened the car door, and when I saw him, I was shocked because we are very close, and I didn’t know if Arapović had called him to tell him I am not answering. He asked me if I was okay. Arapović also showed up, and Bećirović and Mijatović started provoking. ‘Come here, b****, come here.’ My son walked towards them, and there was physical contact. I was on my knees, hugging my son, who was with Mijatović. I said, ‘You hurt my child!'” Raičković was testified, noting that no one reacted.
She said she expected someone to intervene and separate them, as there were many people nearby, but no one did.
“On the right side, Dukić kicked my son in the head. I was hit on the left side by Zoran Bećirović, but I can’t say if his son Luka hit me as well. I injured my hand. When they stopped, my son left, and I headed toward my car. I told Tomo to follow Uroš. Then all four of them approached me. Mijatović choked me, and Bećirović pulled my hair. I didn’t resist because I felt immense relief that my child had left. They asked me to tell them the name of the guy who attacked them. Then they attacked Tomo. I told Dukić, ‘Now it’s his turn…’. He insisted that nothing would happen and that it didn’t matter what they said because they were drunk. They told me they had memorized my car’s license plate and would find my son and kill him. Dukić was calming them, and if it weren’t for him, I think it would have ended tragically for me. I was choking, I couldn’t find my inhaler at that moment. Dukić sat with me, and we drove to a place called Minhen, near a gas station. I started to choke, got out of the car, and started vomiting. Dukić got nervous and tried to help me. He brought me water and assured me that nothing would happen to my son and that I shouldn’t make a fuss about it, that I didn’t know what I was getting into, that both he and I worked for miserable pay, that these people had money and could do whatever they wanted,” Raičković said, adding that Dukić promised to compensate her for the damage.
The Pobjeda journalist also testified that she told the prosecutor that Luka didn’t threaten her and she stood by that, but after reviewing the footage, she saw that he was also an active participant in the attack.
“After the conversation, Dukić took my phone number and said everything would be resolved. I told him that I couldn’t not report this to the police because I couldn’t keep wondering whether Zoran would attack me, spit on me, and insult me when he sees me again. I showed him the building where my brother lives because this happened right by his apartment. I can’t even imagine what would have happened if my brother, who works as a prison officer, had come out. We do our jobs honestly, and no one can buy us,” said Raičković.
Regarding the waiter, she stated that the waiter knew she worked with TVE through her involvement in the show “Shadows.”
She also said that she would join the criminal prosecution against all four defendants and file a civil claim to be pursued in a separate procedure. When the court asked them to comment on the statements of the four accused, who almost unanimously denied the accusations, claiming she was nervous and aggressive, that they didn’t know she was a journalist, and if she had written negatively about the murder of Bećirović’s brother, Ana said that was not true and that their defense was calculated.
The court rejected the proposal to examine Ana Raičković’s phone, as it would, according to them, cause unnecessary delays in the proceedings. Raičković mentioned that at one point, she took her phone and recorded part of the event but not the entire incident.
Lawyers Marta Šćepanović and Danilo Mićović requested that Bećirović and Mijatović be released from custody.
Prosecutor Vlahović opposed releasing the accused, as, in her view, there are still valid reasons for their detention.
The court rejected the defense’s request to release Bećirović and Mijatović from custody, explaining that all circumstances surrounding the case had been considered and certain factors had been established.
“The last review was conducted on January 31st, 2025, and the defense can appeal the decision. I don’t know whose interest it is to delay the case and keep the accused in custody, as stated by lawyer Šćepanović. The court does not take media headlines into account but judges based on the evidence in the case,” stated Judge Ilija Radulović.
The next trial is scheduled for February 24th at 11 AM.
Source: Pobjeda.me