Suspected kingpin sues state

Darko Saric, accused of smuggling more than two tons of cocaine, has sued Serbia for statements made by top state officials He is requesting RSD 10mn from the government, his lawyer Zdenko Tomanovic said, adding that statements made by state officials “violated the presumption of innocence“. Suspected kingpin sues state Tomanovic has filed the lawsuit on his client's behalf over the statements made by President Boris Tadic, Justice Minister Snezana Malovic, Interior Minister Ivica Dacic and State Secretary in the Justice Ministy Slobodan Homen. “Representatives of the state authorities must not publically judge and, before the trial even begins, pronounce anyone guilty, including Darko Saric,“ the lawyer stated. He added that state officials "have in numerous public appearances announced public verdicts and prounounced Saric guilty before the trial has even started and have therefore compromised the chances of a fair trial, and together with a large number of newspaper stories and TV reports, imposed the presumption of guilt,“ Tomanovic added. The beginning of the trial of Saric's drug group is scheduled to begin on September 20 before the Special Court. Saric and six more accused persons remain fugitives, therfore, only 13 of the 20 accused persons will stand trial. Darko Saric (Tanjug)

Suspected kingpin sues state

Tomanović has filed the lawsuit on his client's behalf over the statements made by President Boris Tadić, Justice Minister Snežana Malović, Interior Minister Ivica Dačić and State Secretary in the Justice Ministy Slobodan Homen.

“Representatives of the state authorities must not publically judge and, before the trial even begins, pronounce anyone guilty, including Darko Šarić,“ the lawyer stated.

He added that state officials "have in numerous public appearances announced public verdicts and prounounced Šarić guilty before the trial has even started and have therefore compromised the chances of a fair trial, and together with a large number of newspaper stories and TV reports, imposed the presumption of guilt,“ Tomanović added.

The beginning of the trial of Šarić's drug group is scheduled to begin on September 20 before the Special Court.

Šarić and six more accused persons remain fugitives, therfore, only 13 of the 20 accused persons will stand trial.