How the general is packed

General Slobodan Malešić was arrested on April 4, 2022, a few hours after the polls closed. The presidential and extraordinary parliamentary and local elections in Serbia have just ended. Politicians and citizens were interested in the results, the votes were still being counted when the police general went to the Department of Internal Control in Novi Sad.

At that moment, Malešić held the position of assistant director of the police, responsible for coordination with other security services and head of the Novi Sad Police Department. The results he had predicted to him that he could advance in the ministry. However, SUK inspectors invited him to testify. On the way to the police, which the media only wrote about so far, he sent messages to the mayor of Novi Sad, with whom he was obliged to communicate and regularly report on the security situation in the city. He wrote that he suspected that they could arrest him because, as he stated, for a long time, parts of some centers of power have been trying to "seize him with a criminal act". A little earlier, his acquaintance - businessman Dženan Kujović from Prijepolje - was also arrested. The mayor of Novi Sad, Vučević, expressed his regret and stated that he sent someone a further message.

MUP of Serbia

Malešić also sent the same messages to the brother of the state president and controversial businessman Zvonko Veselinović, who is considered an influential man.

He spent hours at SUK. He was not asked a single question. The inspectors in charge of checking the work of their colleagues were waiting for instructions from Belgrade. It was already around midnight. The first call came from the Belgrade SUK - it was ordered that the general could go home, but that he should come to Belgrade tomorrow for questioning. He was at the door when the phone rang again. Sources of the weekly "Vreme" claim that "they called from the office of the Minister of Police". It was ordered: "Arrest him and take him to the Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime." In the Prosecutor's Office, Malešić insisted that any circumstances that interest the prosecutor be examined on a polygraph. They didn't let him. After that, he spent three months behind bars.

It was a turbulent period for Malešić. In detention, he learns that everything he suspected was true. For more than a year, his phone, car, offices in Belgrade - at the MUP headquarters and the mayor's office in Novi Sad - were bugged. His every step was followed and not only his, but also all the conversations, movements of his family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances. It was one of the most comprehensive police investigations on which five services worked simultaneously. However, during that investigation, not a single piece of material evidence was collected, but only indications arising from hushed conversations - that his position influenced that no investigation was conducted against his friend - but it was conducted, that's all. That he wanted to buy furniture for a godfather's raft through someone's company - but that furniture does not exist. He admits that a friend paid a scholarship for his child who is studying in Belgrade. For example, no one investigates Finance Minister Sinisa Malog when he says that an unnamed friend pays for his children's education in London. None of Malešić's bank accounts are problematic, and all of them were checked without a court order. As stated in the mentioned wiretapped conversations, when they called him from the bank and asked if they should give the bank statements to the police or if they were to request a court order, Malešić personally gave permission to the bank to submit everything to SUK for review.

WAR OVER POSITIONS IN THE PARTY AND MUP U

photo: tanja valič / tanjug

The arrest of the general was preceded by a change of minister, Aleksandar Vulin became the head of the MUP. Police director Vladimir Rebić retired, and there was loud speculation that Slobodan Malešić would be the new director. No one called the general and said to him: "Where are you, future police director!" We learn this from the official transcripts of the wiretapped conversations, as well as that the Ministry was planning to announce a competition for the director of the police at that time, which was stopped for unknown reasons.

Everything was happening before the new elections in Serbia. At that time, it was an open secret that the MUP would get a new minister, perhaps a new prime minister, but also the head of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party. It was the mayor of Novi Sad, Miloš Vučević, who was mentioned as a possible new prime minister, as well as the new head of the SNS (that party change later took place).

And that's the problem. Some in the police didn't like Malešić, and some politicians in power didn't like Vučević - everything turned into a perfect storm of the "eliminate competition" type, which "blew" the general straight into the cell.

This is supported by the fact that the police received a second order to continue eavesdropping and monitoring Malešić with the explanation that he is in constant contact with Mayor Vučević, then the Minister of Defense at the time, and former MUP Nebojša Stefanović and the head of the BIA for Vojvodina, Nikola Vasiljević. By the way, Vasiljević was then rumored to be the new director of the Agency.

HOW THE STATE AND THE POLICE FUNCTION SECRETS REVEALED BY EAPED CONVERSATION

photo: mo

Because of politics, police officers in Serbia are arrested more often than criminals - controversial businessmen are handcuffed only when the government changes, they are detained as long as the media is interested in those cases, and the most powerful politicians are never arrested. One eavesdropped conversation between General Slobodan Malešić and his colleague Bekir Dudić reveals all the turmoil in the police and the state that put the police general on the dock.

The police officers whose conversation is being recorded are talking about Dženan Kujović, an acquaintance and fellow citizen from the general's hometown who is a trucking company from Prijepolje and who, as stated in the court documents, was collateral damage and subjected to a long investigation in order to find some mistake in his business that could connect with Malešić.

The transcript of the conversation that took place on March 1, 2022, while Malešić and Dudić were driving to the BIA for the scheduled meeting, was taken from the listening device placed in the police official vehicle, we transfer from the indictment.

Slobodan Malešić: ... so we're going up to Banjica.

Bekir Dudić: I know, I know where Banjica is.

Malešić: We should be there at 15:10 to XNUMX:XNUMX, the time is measured... What is the point? The bottom line is that when Dženan (Dženan Kujović, a businessman from Prijepolje) was promoted, they took it and now directed it towards me, which is also logical, you understand me, to kick me out of their game for the position of director, like, I'm not in the game, I'm not interested, I don't want to mess with all that right now, you understand?

Dudić: I would not take it lightly.

Slobodan Malešić: What?

Bekir Dudić: In general, their attacks on you and that, I mean what you told me that they went to look for your bank account and that...

Malešić: Look, I follow it all as much as I can and at the highest level... you see...

Dudić: I think it should be through these friends, I mean, that's my opinion... This Vulin, you know what this Vulin is to you, this Vulin is like them poo... He catches everything, whatever you throw at him he shhh, he's not wise at all, he is not tactful, he is nothing absolute, and this Vesko (adv. aut. Veselin Milić, chief of the Belgrade police - who was also discussed as a potential candidate for director) is a very intelligent, socially intelligent man.

Malešić: He is anointed.

Dudić: The situation should not be taken lightly...

Malešić: No, no, no, look...

Dudić: They shouldn't behave like that... After all, you are a general, not you...

Malešić: That's exactly why I survived all this in 2008 during the time of Ivica Dačić, because when they come, everyone...

Dudić: The second level was then, boss, you were not a general then.

Malešić: It doesn't matter, look, they already blew away Miljan, the general from the border, do you understand me?

Dudić: Is Miljan not at your level, boss?

Malešić: No, no, it is, that's why, that's why, look...

Dudić: It's not that level.

Malešić: But you don't understand, look at the bigger picture, they have already solved all of them, you understand me, they are moving on, you understand, they are solving.

Dudić: Do you know what their problem is? The problem is that the professional part of the police sees you as someone who meets all the requirements for a director.

Malešić: And because the police are chasing me.

Dudić: Aaa, the professional part of the police, because you have gone through everything up and down, left and right, and traffic and police and crime, and everything, and those comments like that... You automatically...

Malešić: No, no, everything has been dealt with... Look, in three months it will be, in two or three months it will be.... make, that you are not aware, just pay attention to what I tell you... If they knew for sure that I am not interested in all that (the position of director), you understand me, that I do not want all that, they would take off their clothes, they will now, now they will be based on Vasiljević (then potential director of the BIA)...

Dudić: They already…

Malešić: There you go…

Dudić: There is talk about Vesko (Veselin Milić)... There is talk about Vesko that Vulin will push him.

Malešić: Look, I don't rule out the possibility that Vulin is really planning this.

Dudić: I don't think he will decide that issue at all, nor will he be in that position.

Malešić: No, no, no, ve-de (status)... I have a direct link, everything that is said to me, I tell whom I pass it on to, you understand, and I know all that, I can't do more than that... You understand, it's not necessary now with things where you reach a certain level, where you can throw, it was said... Today will be known who needs to be known, you understand me, brother and everyone else and that's it... You understand me, just like when is the story was around Jenan, I received information from that side, you understand me, that he called and said, this is happening, they will now take it to connect this with this, do you understand?

Dudić: Yes.

Malešić: And that's it... So, I have no business relationship with Dženan, none.

Dudić: But look, it's not even disputed that you have a job, it's disputed that they are carcinogenic.

Malešić: That will eat them.

Dudić: I can have a business relationship with someone, a healthy business relationship, I will not smuggle oil, I am setting an example and that...

Malešić: That cancer will eat them, then they attacked Raško, Raško should have received some permission, Raško is a representative of Hammer, I don't know if you heard that?

Dudić: No.

Malešić: Well, Raško is a representative of Hummer and Raško should have received a permit to be able to import Hummers, they made up a story for him that he gave a jeep to Dijana Hrkalović, whom he never met in his life, that... that I introduced him to Aca Papić, you understand, that Aca Papić is my friend, which is all a lie and they refuse him permission... He says - what are we going to do? Say nothing, keep quiet and wait, you have people; ten days ago they called urgently from the president's office, do you understand me? That's how it's done, you can't, look, you can't fight against evildoers and all that with their weapons, then you enter the war and then you become the same as them, you understand me, it's important to know what you are and that the one who he decides he knows how to harmonize, everything else… everything else is… The best thing of all is that you're clean, do you understand me?

Dudić: Yes.

Malešić: That is not a hundred percent guarantee, but it is 99 percent.

Dudić: Because you have professionalism and knowledge.

Malešić: Look, they have something, and look, what a friend told me last night, this only speaks of their fear, do you understand me?

Dudić: Nothing, that's clear to me.

Malešić: Are they saying that they were able to deal with Rebić; if I were that (director), they would all shut down.

Dudić: No, no, you are identified as someone who holds Rebić and who manages Rebić, that's their logic... Otherwise, if it weren't for you, they would have easily solved everything.

photo: jaroslav pap / tanjug

Malešić: That's right, they would have solved it a long time ago, they wouldn't have appointed him, he wouldn't even have been the director... Now they will again appoint someone who won't be that... They don't need him; If I were a politician, I would never put either me or Milić as a director... because we all have our own way, he is crazy, no matter how rude he is, you're going to make fun of me, and I won't participate in those things, no you can hunt me, so you can put me away, you can't hunt me... So I just know why they do it, why they attack and attack that's it, I'm fully aware of that and I don't want to get into it at all those stories, who knows should know. Another thing - now there will be turmoil within the party, because I am now someone who is in favor of Vucevic, you understand me, it should be seen in a broader context... And they are afraid of Vucevic's arrival in Belgrade, which is imminent... Well, another thing, they are afraid of his coming to the position of prime minister, his coming to Belgrade automatically draws me as someone who will be there for him...

Dudić: Are you good with him, boss?

Malešić: Like this, we were together for four hours yesterday, you understand me... I talk to him openly, like with... Rebić, just keep quiet about it, and they broke it in, you understand, what's the problem now, now the story goes that Vucevic is coming to Belgrade, that the one who is the head of the BIE of Novi Sad is coming as the head of the BIE, and I am coming as the director, you understand me, and now they are all...

Dudić: In the guard?

Malešić: Everyone is in the guard, all of them... It unites the enemies, you have to look at the bigger picture, you understand me...

"THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN THE COUNTRY"

The investigation against the general began shortly after Vulin became the Minister of Police. According to the testimony of Dragan Kovačević, a police officer in the Užice Criminal Police Department, the Department for the Fight against Corruption, he was ordered by the newly appointed chief, Miroslav Simović, to investigate the operations of the "Matador" company owned by Dženan Kujović and to immediately request the prosecution to begin wiretapping and searches.

Kovačević states that everything was suspicious to him from the start since Simović introduced himself as his new boss, but he was not officially announced for that position.

"He asks about everything, he doesn't sign anything, there is no signature on any act, and he orders everything."

Inspector Kovačević was given a paper that reminded him of operational information, but it was not procedurally filed in the MUP's Analytics, he forwarded it to the prosecutor who said that she would not work on the basis of such information because it looked like false information.

"You can clearly see that someone is riding on someone's neck and that he climbed on his back," Kovačević testified that the prosecutor told him.

However, according to the inspector, his boss asked them to write an anonymous criminal complaint and send it to the Prosecutor's Office because, as he told him, it was "the most important job in the country".

After that, almost daily searches of all Kujović's companies began, during which around 25 kilograms of documentation were collected. The Belgrade and Novi Sad corruption departments worked on that case. Not a single department found anything against Dženan Kujović even after a year of investigation. The prosecutor persistently insisted that work on the case be stopped, the police officers wrote official notes about everything, informed the officials, and even Malešić as a police assistant, that they were not doing anything else, that all the cases were pending because they were pursuing only one businessman and that for months.

Eventually, there was a general argument in the prosecutor's office, as recounted in Kovačević's testimony in the indictment.

"At the same moment, he called Simović and said that the prosecutor Sanja Protić called him and said that Kujović and his lawyer were coming, that they complained about the procedure, that they should urgently stop and stop the checks and submit all the documentation to her and that come for consultation. Simović responded by saying: 'I'll fuck her mother, we're not at her place for practice, she can do that with you, she can't with me, we'll schedule a meeting', then he said to schedule a consultation with her. He called her, they scheduled a consultation, after a while, when Simović was able, he left with him and Šaponjić. Before entering the consultations, Simović said: 'You don't say anything, only I talk.' And the discussion about that subject started, he convinced her that they had to work on that subject; she said: 'Okay, what you found, you can do, but don't put me in a situation where people complain about my behavior, and I gave you a Pe-O request'. He told her that the company 'Matador' was collateral damage, he and Šaponjić looked at each other, prosecutor Sanja asked: 'Please?' He repeated that the company 'Matador' is collateral damage and something must be found for him in order to realize some highest interest in the state."

It turned out that the "highest state interest" was actually the arrest of Slobodan Malešić. After that meeting, inspector Dragan Kovačević refuses to work further without clear orders from the prosecutor and informs every police official he has contact with. First, he was demoted in the service, and after the general was arrested, inspector Kovačević was also taken into custody due to accusations that he informed his superior Malešić about the investigation against the owner of the company "Matador".