Drug boss reportedly "angry at two politicians"

Drug boss reportedly "angry at two politicians"

The Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime has announced that the prosecutor will first question Šarić about the manner in which he fled Serbia and about his helpers, and that these questions will be asked "in order to arrive at the connections he had in state institutions."

But Bačević said that he "does not know why Šarić would declare himself on that now."

"He needs to make a statement regarding the circumstances of the offense, whether he committed the crime or not. Since he was on the run, now he is in custody. We are not filing for his detention to be abolished now and there is no reason for Darko Šarić to answer such questions," said Bačević.

Bačević, however, stated that if such questions were to "impose themselves" during the main hearing, Šarić would "certainly answer them."

On the other hand, Večernje Novosti is reporting on Thursday that the suspected drug lord "is ready to tell all about his political and economic accomplices." As the newspaper says, he is "particularly angry at two politicians from the previous and the current government, which he believes sold him out."

The same article claims that Šarić allegedly mentioned them during the flight from Podgorica on Tuesday and "did not hide his resentment over what they did to him."

The daily further claims that he was first flown in from Venezuela, on an airplane owned by a Swiss-based company.

Šarić's future testimony is awaited with great anticipation because of the possible political implications mentioned in the media, but analysts warn that the public may not learn much.

Various "implications" related to the Šarić case were mentioned before, and his surrender is expected to lead to new ones. However, the situation was similar when Milorad Ulemek, the chief suspect in the assassination of Zoran Đinđić, surrendered, but the case did not live up to those expectations.

For that reason, Šarić's testimony may prove to be most interesting when it comes to the case of Branko Lazarević, former chief of cabinet of Interior Minister Ivica Dačić. Lazarević is suspected of betraying official secrets to the crime gang.

Šarić himself is accused of smuggling several tons of cocaine from South America, and laundering some EUR 22 million.

Organized Crime Prosecutor Miljko Radisavljević has said that Šarić cannot become a "protected witness," but can reach an agreement to admit to the charges against him. Radisavljević explained that Šarić could send a proposal via his lawyer, and that the prosecution may also initiate such a deal.

He explained that this option is available to every accused person.

Radisavljević noted that nobody from his office spoke with Šarić and that the first contact will happen on Monday. Beside the main case, Šarić will also be questioned as a witness in the pre-investigative procedure against Lazarević.

Asked whether there were any other cases where Šarić may appear either as a defendant or a witness, Radisavljević said:

"Until things have been made concrete, or until some preliminary investigation proceedings that are in progress have been completed - about which he might have some knowledge - I do not wish to say anything."

Meanwhile, the media in the region are reporting that Šarić also had a Croatian passport, and that he may have been involved in money laundering in Slovenia.