“Witness in Šarić case remains safe“

Justice Minister Snezana Malovic says that an attempt of some criminal groups to get to a witness associate in case against Darko Saric has been halted. She told daily Blic that she could not give any more details about this. “Witness in Saric case remains safe“ Organized criminal groups attempted to directly influence staffing changes in the Serbian police (MUP) protection unit and that way get to the witness and stop him from testifying, Malovic pointed out. She stressed that “the state is stronger than mafia“ and that there had also been media attacks on deputy prosecutor who is in charge of the case against Saric's gang and chief of the protection unit and that the Witness Protection Committee was under attack as well. When asked whether she was pressured in the case of folk singer Svetlana Raznatovic, the justice minister said that “two middlemen who were close to the people from Vojislav Kostunica's government were asking questions to her associates about the case“. “I don't want to name them now because I'm convinced that they realized after my response that such influences do not work and I'm sure that they are never going to try something like that again. It's well-known that half of members of the government were at the concert of the suspect, Svetlana Raznatovic. Nobody is above the law and nobody will be protected,“ she explained. “Unlike the previous period, nobody is pressuring the court or the prosecution. The court is free to assess the facts and available evidence. I think that everybody should bear responsibility for their work. Still, it is unnacceptable that investigation in any case takes seven years,“ the minister pointed out. When asked about errors which were made during the appointment of judges, that the European Commission was also pointing out, Malovic said that it was natural to make mistakes in such a big work such as judicial reform. “Mistakes which occured during general election of judges will be fixed through a systematic inspection of each individual decision,“ she stressed. “The High Judicial Council and the State Prosecutors' Council will do this and not only regarding those who were not elected but all those who have been in office since January 1, 2010. Problems will be solved in accordance with the European standards,“ the justice minister concluded. Snezana Malovic (Tanjug)

“Witness in Šarić case remains safe“

Organized criminal groups attempted to directly influence staffing changes in the Serbian police (MUP) protection unit and that way get to the witness and stop him from testifying, Malović pointed out.

She stressed that “the state is stronger than mafia“ and that there had also been media attacks on deputy prosecutor who is in charge of the case against Šarić's gang and chief of the protection unit and that the Witness Protection Committee was under attack as well.

When asked whether she was pressured in the case of folk singer Svetlana Ražnatović, the justice minister said that “two middlemen who were close to the people from Vojislav Koštunica's government were asking questions to her associates about the case“.

“I don't want to name them now because I'm convinced that they realized after my response that such influences do not work and I'm sure that they are never going to try something like that again. It's well-known that half of members of the government were at the concert of the suspect, Svetlana Ražnatović. Nobody is above the law and nobody will be protected,“ she explained.

“Unlike the previous period, nobody is pressuring the court or the prosecution. The court is free to assess the facts and available evidence. I think that everybody should bear responsibility for their work. Still, it is unnacceptable that investigation in any case takes seven years,“ the minister pointed out.

When asked about errors which were made during the appointment of judges, that the European Commission was also pointing out, Malović said that it was natural to make mistakes in such a big work such as judicial reform.

“Mistakes which occured during general election of judges will be fixed through a systematic inspection of each individual decision,“ she stressed.

“The High Judicial Council and the State Prosecutors' Council will do this and not only regarding those who were not elected but all those who have been in office since January 1, 2010. Problems will be solved in accordance with the European standards,“ the justice minister concluded.