Over the past three years, the state has made a profit of almost €800.000 on the grounds of bails. The highest amount of bail is €300.000 and the lowest €3.000.
If a prisoner gets court’s approval, he/she can defend him/herself from freedom with bail in the form of money, securities or valuable property.
“The amount is established on the basis of the severity of criminal offence that a person is charged with, personal and family circumstances and property. So far, the highest amount that has been paid on the account of Montenegrin courts is the bail of Vaso Ulić, charged with organizing criminal group which dealt with international drug smuggling”, said Ms Aida Muzurović, PR manager of the High Court in Podgorica.
There are examples in practice of prisoners reneging on the agreement. Two years ago, family of Miloš Čujović, from Belgrade, guaranteed that the accused would respond to a summons if he was released. After Čujović escaped, the court abolished decision on bail and a warrant for his arrest was issued.
Advantages of bail are multiple, said Ms Jelena Đonović- Vukotić, lawyer.
“First of all, granting bail is much more human act towards the accused. Second of all, the accused is not exposed to danger from criminal infection and jail and, third, there are no costs of jail”, the lawyer said.
