Bail totalling €838,000 granted for Petanović

The High Court has accepted a defence motion allowing Andrija Petanović, who is charged with cigarette smuggling, to remain at liberty pending trial after his family offered bail totalling €838,000, consisting of real estate valued at €823,000 and a €15,000 cash deposit, the High Court's independent public relations adviser Marija Milovanović confirmed to the ETV Portal.

Milovanović noted that the ruling is not yet final, as the prosecution has lodged an appeal. The final decision will be made by the Court of Appeals.

According to the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT), Petanović is accused of being a member of an alleged criminal group organised by former National Security Agency officer Duško Golubović and Sanader Stanaj, owner of the Rokšped Auto Centre, who is currently a fugitive.

The Special State Prosecutor's Office alleges that Golubović and Stanaj headed a criminal organisation that smuggled cigarettes during 2020 and 2021, causing an estimated €18.26 million in damage to the state budget. In addition to Petanović, Golubović and Stanaj, the indictment also names former Rokšped director Prokopije Perić, Mileta Simanić, Dejan Milić, Radoje Dakić, Adnan Suković, Predrag Madžgalj, Ivan Turčinović, and Stanaj's brother, Nuo Stanaj.