According to the investigation of the Network for Affirmation of NGO Sector (MANS), the company of the controversial businessman Oleg Obradović, “Hemera Capital”, sold its share in the company “Hidroenergija Montenegro” for about half a million euros, but there is no data on those revenues in its financial reports, while the company also did not pay taxes.
The second part of the investigation, after revealing the legal schemes of the “Grand Team” which damaged the state budget by at least 188,000 euros, reveals that Obradović hid data on property and did not pay taxes. “Hidroenergija”, involved in the construction of small hydropower plants and investments worth millions with the support of the state, generated very significant revenues from the sale of electricity.
MANS states that the payment of taxes was evaded during every sale of shares in “Hidroenergija”, in the total amount of several hundred thousand euros.
– Obradović’s company did not pay tax on half a million euros from the sale of a part of “Hidroenergija” to “Bemax”. Instead, it deleted the ownership of the entire company from its financial reports – it is stated in the MANS’ investigation, which was done in cooperation with the World Wide Fund for Nature.
It is explained that Obradović founded “Hidroenergija” in 2007, through the company “Hemera kapital”, which he formed for that job alone. The other founder was “Fortis”, a company from Berane, which was formed by Obradović’s relatives.
Obradović, as it is stated, founded “Hemera” with the help of the lawyer Ana Đukanović, sister of the President of Montenegro, Milo Đukanović.
– During 2010, Oleg Obradović gave “Hidroenergija” a short-term loan of over 200,000 euros, while at the very end of 2011, “Bemax” entered the ownership structure. In the agreement on the sale of shares to “Bemax”, it is stated that at that moment, “Hidroenergija” owed money only to Obradović – it is pointed out in the investigation.
MANS points out that although “Hemera” sold its share in “Hidroenergija” for about half a million euros, there is no data on those revenues in its financial reports.
– Therefore, that company did not pay taxes on them. After the sale of a part of the shares to “Bemax”, “Hemera” stopped reporting its participation in the capital of “Hidroenergija” in its financial reports, although it remained the owner of 40%. This led to a drop in the value of Hemera’s assets by nearly 350,000 euros, and at the same time, the value of capital was reduced. At the end of 2018, the value of the assets of “Hemera” was less than six thousand euros, although it was the owner of 40% of “Hidroenergija” with a capital worth around four million euros – MANS stated.
It is pointed out that Obradović also did not report the first 100 thousand that “Bemax” paid had him under the contract, as well as the payments in the following years. It is stated that Obradović invested over half a million euros in “Hidroenergija”, because he gradually pumped part of the money into “Hemera”, which then invested in “Hidroenergija”.
– In February 2008, Obradović paid an additional 100,000 euros as the founding capital in “Hemera”. Two days later, a decision was made to increase the share of “Hemera” in “Hidroenergija” by 110,000 euros, and that money was paid about ten days later. Thus, the founding capital of “Hemera” grew to over 89 %. At the end of 2008, “Hemera” increased its share in “Hidroenergija” to over 93% by transferring land with an estimated value of around 53 thousand euros to that company and giving it project documentation worth 75 thousand euros. “Hemera” never showed that land in its financial reports, on the basis of which we conclude that it was bought and transferred in the same year – MANS’ investigation points out.
In that business, as it is claimed, “Hidroenergija” was represented by the lawyer Nikola Martinović.
It is also interesting that “Hidroenergija” took a loan from Zapad banka, whose repayment was guaranteed by Obradović, but also by persons who are connected with the company “Bemax”, it is stated.
– That loan was later refinanced with a loan from Prva banka, so at the end of 2018, that company had a debt of about 20 million euros. However, that company has had significant revenues from the sale of electricity since 2014 – it was pointed out in the MANS’ investigation.
M.V.
Daily newspaper “DAN”
Unusual ties with Ana Đukanović and Nikola Martinović
In its investigation, MANS points out that Obradović gained the greatest infamous attention with the outbreak of the “Telekom” affair, when the Montenegrin state company was taken over by the Magyar Telekom. Obradović was reportedly one of the signatories of four consulting contracts that served to corrupt two Montenegrin state officials and the sister of the highest state official. The case was reportedly investigated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
– It turned out that these were fictitious deals through which 246 thousand euros was paid to Ana Đukanović. Everything was done through the offshore company “Sigma”, and the contract signed by Obradović was worth 580 thousand euros. The rest of the money was given to the then business partner of Ana Đukanović, lawyer Nikola Martinović from Podgorica – MANS states.
However, as it is claimed, Obradović and Miodrag Ivanović cooperated through the establishment of the company OMP, in which they each had 30% of shares. Their partner was also Predrag Bošković, current Minister of Defence. It is interesting that Nikola Martinović helped found that company, it is stated in the MANS’ investigation, with the remark that OMP entered into a partnership with the state owned company “Plantže” in order to open a briquette factory.
– The company never started working, which is why there was a dispute that ended in court. It is interesting that Obradović reencountered Ana Đukanović and Nikola Martinović here as well, but this time in different roles. In this case, Đukanović represented “Plantaže”, and Martinović represented Ivanović and Obradović, so all these facts make the dispute before the Commercial Court even more intriguing and unusual, to say the least – it is stated in the MANS’ investigation.
Oleg personally gave loans of 200 thousand
It is interesting, according to MANS’ investigation, that during 2010, Oleg Obradović personally gave a loan of over 200 thousand euros to “Hidroenergija”. According to the investigation, in January 2008, he paid nearly 50,000 euros for project documentation for small hydropower plants.
MANS notes that in November 2008, a new founder, Miodrag Ivanović, joined “Hidroenergija”, to whom “Hemera” sold its 25 % for less than 95,000 euros.
– However, seven months later, in June 2009, Ivanović left the company because he did not pay the founding capital – it is stated in the investigation.
