ŽIŽIĆ TESTIMONY: We learned in June of 2021 that Belivuk and Miljković were involved in the murders of Spahić and Hodžić

Former Head of the Podgorica Security Center Milovan Pavićević informed me in January 2021 that his colleague from Serbia, Veselin Milić, had notified him that Serbian nationals Veljko Belivuk and Marko Miljković had purchased airline tickets and would be landing at Tivat Airport. I immediately informed Assistant Director of Police Zoran Lazović, with whom I agreed to contact the Head of the Herceg Novi Security Center, Goran Banićević, to deploy the best officers and place Belivuk and Miljković under constant surveillance - former Head of the Department for the Fight Against Organized Crime Milorad Žižić testified as a witness before the High Court during the trial of former Chief Special Prosecutor Milivoje Katnić, former senior police official Zoran Lazović and suspended prosecutor Saša Čađenović.

Žižić was explicit that, at the time Belivuk and Miljković entered Montenegro, authorities did not have information linking them to the murders of Damir Hodžić and Adis Spahić. Information about their involvement was obtained in June 2021, after receiving an intelligence package from Europol, following a request by Montenegrin police to identify two IMEI phone numbers. Subsequent data provided helped identify the suspects in the murders of Hodžić and Spahić.

In his detailed testimony, Žižić explained that after Belivuk and Miljković arrived in Montenegro, he received a call from Serbian colleague Nevenko Marić, who worked in the Department for the Fight Against Serious Crime, requesting that Montenegrin police determine the purpose of their visit, the duration of their stay, their accommodation, and their contacts.

- I immediately informed Banićević. He contacted me and said that they had been brought in for questioning, and that at the airport they were met by Miloš Radonjić, a member of the „Kavač“ clan - Žižić stated.

He emphasized that the priority was to „cover“ the area, especially the entry and exit points of the Kavač settlement. According to him, both uniformed police and operational units were deployed.

- In my conversation with Marić, I also asked that an Interpol request be sent covering all the details they were interested in, which they did. That telegram was forwarded to the Kotor Security Department and an immediate response was provided - Žižić said.

He further explained that during that period, authorities were heavily engaged in activities aimed at preventing the assassination of Slobodan Kašćelan. As he stated, they received information that the planned execution was to be carried out by placing a large quantity of explosives on a vehicle, but that the individuals who had planned the attack subsequently redirected their focus to Belivuk and Miljković.

- Their priority was Belivuk, and Miljković if possible - Žižić recounted.

He stated that the planned attack was prevented. Belivuk and Miljković were arrested upon their return to Belgrade.

Žižić also explained the details surrounding the failure to prosecute Duško Roganović, a member of the Kavač criminal group, whom Milan Kankaraš had accused in his testimony of being the main figure responsible for street-level drug distribution.

Several individuals close to Duško Roganović were arrested, but Roganović himself was not.

- As was customary, prior to operational action we went to a meeting with the then Chief Special Prosecutor Milivoje Katnić. Prosecutor Saša Čađenović and I informed him at that time of the details related to the Duško Roganović case and street-level drug trafficking. Katnić asked several questions, including whether, apart from Kankaraš’s testimony, there had been any drug seizures in the Boka region, and whether there was any evidence to corroborate Kankaraš’s statement, which we did not have. After that, the Chief Special Prosecutor told us to continue working, gather evidence, and that the prosecution of Roganović should be a priority - Žižić said.

He added that in March 2021, when the „Sky“ system was taken down, they submitted a request to Europol with the aim of shedding light on the most serious criminal offenses.

After receiving the data, a criminal complaint was filed against Roganović for forming a criminal organization and for participation in the murder of Milo Radulović.

 In addition to Žižić, Nusret Hodžić was also heard today in the capacity of a witness. His son Damir and son-in-law Adis Spahić were killed in October 2020.

He stated that six to seven months after the disappearance of his son and son-in-law, the family was informed that they had been murdered.

- To this day, all I ask is that they find my child. His bones. Special Prosecutor Saša Čađenović cried more than I did. I asked him why he was crying for my son - Hodžić said.

The criminal group accused of their murders is, according to the position of the Special State Prosecutor’s Office (SDT), led by Kotor native Radoje Zvicer. The indictment also includes Radoje Živković, Milan Vujotić, Dragan Knežević, Marko Miljković, and Veljko Belivuk.

Nusret Hodžić testified that he reported the disappearance of his son-in-law to the police on October 14 or 15, 2020.

- I did not know that my son was with him, because at that time he was not coming to Montenegro. My son-in-law asked me for a car on October 14 so he could go to Žabljak. My daughter later told me that Spahić had not answered his phone all day. I headed toward Žabljak, thinking he might have run off the road. After that, we reported the disappearance. We asked the police for help - Hodžić said.

He also stated that he and his family launched a private investigation and collected CCTV footage from nearby houses.

- We went to Žižić several times. After six or seven months, we were told that they had been killed - Hodžić said.

He added that the private investigation was halted after several days.

- A police officer named Rakonjac, I’m not sure if his first name was Vladimir, told us that we would be detained if we continued to interfere with the police investigation - Hodžić stated.

Prosecutor Čađenović said that the witness testimony indicates that in 2020 the investigation consisted of information-gathering activities, and that during that period neither the SSPO nor any other prosecutor’s office was aware of the criminal offense, as the case was being handled as a missing persons case.

- It was only in the summer of 2021, with the arrival of the Sky material, that the SSPO began acting in this case - Čađenović said.

The investigation, he added, has not yet been completed, nor have the remains been found.

The trial continues tomorrow, when Žižić will resume answering questions from Special Prosecutor Miloš Šoškić, as well as questions from the defense and the defendants.