Following the discovery that Vesna Medenica concealed income of nearly € 140,000 from the competent authorities, MANS today filed a request with the competent bodies of the Judicial Council to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the President of the Supreme Court of Montenegro.
The requests were submitted to the Commission for Monitoring the Implementation of the Code of Ethics of Judges of the Judicial Council and the so-called General Session of the Supreme Court, in accordance with the Law on Judicial Council and Judges, according to which Medenica committed a severe disciplinary offense.
Official documentation obtained by the MANS Investigative Centre confirms that in 2015 Vesna Medenica sold inherited land in Kolašin for nearly €140 thousand and failed to report it to the then Commission for Prevention of Conflict of Interest by filing an extraordinary statement on revenues and assets.
Medenica, as the holder of one of the highest judicial offices and previously years-long holder of the highest prosecutorial offices, was clearly obliged to accurately and regularly report her assets and revenues. She did not report the income of nearly €140 thousand within 30 days, but in none of the following reports as well.
What is of particular concern is Medenica’s decision to deny the public an explanation for her actions and motives that led her to decide, as the first person in Montenegrin judiciary, to violate the laws and regulations of this country.
We remind the members of the Judicial Council that they are obliged by the Law on Judicial Council and Judges to submit a motion for establishing disciplinary responsibility without delay, as soon as they become aware of a committed disciplinary offense.
MANS will insist on legal resolution of this case, from holding Vesna Medenica accountable for hiding income and business worth close to €140,000, to putting strong institutional pressure on judicial and other competent authorities, who have to start establishing practices of independence and balance in exactly these cases, before they open any discussion on prosecutorial and judicial reforms.Any passivity of the competent authorities in the prosecution of the head of the Supreme Court would further reduce the already undermined public trust in the judicial system of Montenegro, but also the general principle of equality of all before the law.
MANS
