Jovanjica case
{{Short description|Serbian political scandal}}
{{Expand language|langcode=sr|name=Slučaj Jovanjica|otherarticle=Slučaj Jovanjica}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
The Jovanjica case is a Serbian political scandal. Jovanjica, owned by Predrag Koluvija, was a company that was known for producing organic food until it was raided by police in November 2019 and found to be a large-scale marijuana farm. Koluvija, who had connections to the Serbian Progressive Party, was accused of being the leader of a criminal group that cultivated and sold marijuana with the help of police officers and other intelligence agents. He is currently on trial in two separate cases before the Special Court for Organized Crime in Belgrade. The case became a major scandal for Serbian political figures, due to the involvement of several high ranking officials.
Background
Predrag Koluvija ({{Lang-sr-Cyrl|Предраг Колувија}}) is a Serbian businessman.{{Cite news |last=Maričić |first=Slobodan |date=2023-04-10 |title=Rečnik slučaja Jovanjica: Pet najvažnijih pojmova |url=https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat/srbija-65212607 |access-date=2023-06-15 |work=BBC News na srpskom |language=sr-latn}} He was also part of the official delegation of Serbia during a business forum in Moscow in 2019, when he accompanied President Aleksandar Vučić, and is close to the ruling Serbian Progressive Party and high ranking political officials.{{Cite news |last=Vulović |first=Neda |date=2019-12-05 |title=Aleksić: Vlasnik "Jovanjice" bio s Vučićem na privrednom forumu u Moskvi |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/a549810-Aleksic-Vlasnik-Jovanjice-bio-s-Vucicem-u-delegaciji-u-Moskvi/ |access-date=2023-06-15 |work=N1 |language=sr-RS}} Jovanjica, owned by Koluvija, was a company that was known for producing organic food.
Raid and arrests
Following a stop with police for reckless driving, the police found Koluvija to be in possession of fake ID. This led them to his farm, which was found instead to be a large-scale marijuana farm.{{Cite news |last=Cvetkovic |first=Ljudmila |date=2021-10-21 |title=Serbia's Jailed Medical-Marijuana Users Seize On Double Standard For Reputed Kingpin |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia-marijuana-double-standard/31521212.html |access-date=2024-02-16 |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |language=en}} The business was raided by police in November 2019, and Kovulja was arrested.{{Cite news |date=2023-11-24 |title=Privremeno oduzeta imovina vlasniku 'Jovanjice' Predragu Koluviji |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/predrag-koluvija-jovanjica-oduzimanje-imovine/32698215.html |access-date=2024-02-16 |work=Radio Slobodna Evropa |language=sh}} At the farm was found {{Convert|650|kg|lb}} of dried marijuana and 65000 raw stems.
Legal proceedings
Koluvija is accused of being the leader of a criminal group that cultivated and sold marijuana with the help of police officers and other intelligence agents.{{Cite news |last=Živanović |first=Katarina |date=2021-11-02 |title=Koluvija priprema sebi oslobađajuću presudu |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/drustvo/koluvija-priprema-sebi-oslobadjajucu-presudu/ |access-date=2023-06-15 |work=Danas |language=sr-RS}} He was placed under house arrest. Following his release from prison and his placement under house arrest, there was public outcry. President Aleksandar Vučić defended this placement, on the grounds that he had not killed anyone and that marijuana was a drug that "half the region, the Germans and others, ha[ve] legalized".
He is currently on trial in two separate cases before the Special Court for Organized Crime in Belgrade.{{Cite news |date=2022-11-23 |title=Ponovo odloženo pripremeno ročište u predmetu Jovanjica 2 |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/drustvo/ponovo-odlozeno-pripremeno-rociste-u-predmetu-jovanjica-2/ |access-date=2023-06-15 |work=Danas |language=sr-RS}} In 2023, many of Koluvija's properties were ordered to be seized.{{Cite news |last=Milovanović |first=Tanja |date=2023-11-24 |title=Ovo je imovina koja je oduzeta Predragu Koluviji: Stan na Zvezdari, parcele i devet zgrada u Staroj Pazovi |url=https://nova.rs/vesti/hronika/ovo-je-imovina-koja-je-oduzeta-predragu-koluviji-stan-na-zvezdari-parcele-i-devet-zgrada-u-staroj-pazovi/ |access-date=2024-02-16 |work=Nova |language=sr-RS}}
Kovulja sued the news portal KRIK for calling him an "accused drug boss".{{Cite news |last=Bešlija |first=Damir |date=2021-11-03 |title=Suspected Drug Producer Sues KRIK for Calling him 'Accused Narco Boss' |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/15426-suspected-drug-producer-sues-krik-for-calling-him-accused-drug-lord |access-date=2024-02-16 |work=OCCRP |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |last=Jovanović |first=Bojana |date=2023-09-12 |title=KRIK found guilty in a court case issued by Predrag Koluvija |url=https://www.krik.rs/en/krik-found-guilty-in-a-court-case-issued-by-predrag-koluvija/ |access-date=2024-02-16 |work=KRIK |language=en-US}} They were found guilty for violating his presumption of innocence.{{Cite web |last=KRIK.rs |date=2024-06-19 |title=Court Rules Against KRIK in Koluvija’s Defamation Suit |url=https://www.krik.rs/en/court-rules-against-krik-in-koluvijas-defamation-suit/ |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=KRIK |language=en-US}} BIRN was also sued by Kovulja over their coverage on the case, for alleged incorrect reporting. BIRN claimed that Kovulja was attempting to silence the press.{{Cite news |date=2023-02-14 |title=BIRN Sued Over 'Marijuana Farm' Court Case Coverage |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2023/02/14/birn-sued-over-marijuana-farm-court-case-coverage/ |access-date=2024-02-16 |work=BalkanInsight}}
Reaction
The case became a major scandal for Serbian political figures, due to the involvement of several high ranking officials.{{Cite news |last1=Veljkovic |first1=Jelena |last2=Apostolov |first2=Vlado |date=2021-05-26 |title='No Case': Serbian Marijuana Probe Points, in Vain, to North Macedonia |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2021/05/26/no-case-serbian-marijuana-probe-points-in-vain-to-north-macedonia/ |access-date=2024-02-16 |work=BalkanInsight |language=en}}