Prosecutor annuls custody order for Direct Media director

 The Prosecutors’ Office for Organised Crime confirmed to N1 that the detention for all three people arrested on Wednesday was revoked.

The police apprehended Stojanovic and two employees with the state RTS TV marketing, under suspicion of abusing office and inflicted material damage to the public broadcaster and Serbia’s citizens of 688 million Dinars (around 5.8 million Euros).

“The arrest of Direct Media CEO and criminal charges against former director Jadranka Drinic written on over 150 pages, is an unsuccessful attempt to push the Prosecutors’ Office into the political marketing against (previous Direct media owner and an opposition leader) Dragan Djilas, “Tomanovic told N1.

"Since the start of an anti-Djilas campaign no one, none of the respective state institutions, including the state auditor, no administrative institutions, not Direct Media, not RTS ever said there had been any damage in the business between Direct Media and RTS. For the first time, our political elite, primarily the executive authorities, stated that within the campaign against Dragan Djilas,” the lawyer added.

Tomanovic said that the special prosecutor annulled the detention order for Stojanovic after the hearing.

Serbia's Prime Minister accused Djilas on Thursday of “influencing the judiciary and the decisions that should be taken,” and added the respective institutions should be left alone to do their job.

She said that though the case was outside her jurisdiction, she nevertheless encouraged the responsible institutions to “be brave enough to do their job and protect the rule of law.”

Tomanovic said that "following the hearing, the special prosecutor not only refused to detain these people but annulled the custody decision for the current Direct Media CEO immediately, so Jovanovic will defend himself from freedom if there will be a trial.”

Regarding the criminal charges against Drinic, Tomanovic said “that is absolutely in contradiction with the Constitution and laws because a warrant can’t be issued against Serbia’s citizen who legally informed the state they were leaving and where their new residence will be,” he said.

Tomanovic added that the “legal procedure, in that case, could be that Serbia’s respective institution asks the justice ministry of the country where Drinic lives to serve her with a subpoena, and if she doesn’t respond, an eventual warrant could be discussed.”

The lawyer said “Drinic has no reason whatsoever to ignore the subpoena besides a political campaign which is deceiving the most essential legally relevant fact – that there is no damage in Direct Media and RTS business.