Former head of Montenegro's secret service sentenced for spying on politicians
This has been reported by RTCG.
In Montenegro, the High Court has handed down a sentence to the former director of the National Security Agency, Dejan Peruničić.
He was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for organising the illegal wiretapping and surveillance of politicians, journalists, former prosecutors and religious figures.
Also implicated in the case is former intelligence officer Srđan Pavičević. He was sentenced to one year and four months in prison.
Who was being monitored
According to RTCG, Peruničić and Pavićević were linked to the illegal wiretapping and surveillance of Democratic Front officials, former Chief Special Prosecutor Milivoje Katnić and others.
RTCG also reports that the surveillance involved former heads of the public prosecutor’s office, opposition politicians, journalists and senior church officials from late 2019 to 2020.
What the investigation established
The investigation established that between December 2019 and August 2020, prior to the parliamentary elections, Peruničić, using his official position, organised the illegal surveillance of dozens of individuals.
Among them were opposition figures, journalists, religious leaders, as well as political and civil society activists.
According to the prosecution, the wiretapping was carried out without the necessary court authorisations. This, as the prosecution noted, violated the law and human rights guaranteed by the country’s Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.
Details of the ANB case
According to the CDM, Perunićić was convicted of having unlawfully used his official position and powers as director of the National Security Agency between December 2019 and August 2020.
The report states that, contrary to the ANB Act and without the authorisation of the President of the Supreme Court of Montenegro or the judge acting in his stead, he allegedly issued verbal orders to unidentified agency staff regarding the surveillance of electronic communications.
The former head of the ANB was also accused of abuse of office. He was arrested in October 2021 and dismissed from his post in December 2020.
Defence preparing appeal
Dejan Peruničić’s lawyer, Zdravko Begović, stated that the defence would appeal the High Court’s verdict. This was reported by RTCG.
RTCG notes that Peruničić is being tried on the basis of three indictments from the Special State Prosecutor’s Office. He was charged with abuse of office.
Follow us on Telegram
