Serbia Awaits Verdict in Saric's Protracted Trial

Monday's expected verdict in the trial of alleged crime boss and drugs smuggler Darko Saric will end a four-year-long case that has been marked by speculation, intrigues and suspicions.

The Belgrade Special Court has scheduled December 10 for the pronouncement of the second first-instance verdict in the case of Saric and others, accused of smuggling 5.7 tonnes of cocaine from South America to Western Europe.

Saric, who had been on the run since 2010, surrendered to Serbian police after reaching an agreement with the Belgrade authorities to give himself up in March 2014.

He was flown in to Belgrade airport from Montenegro on March 18 accompanied by police and taken to the Special Prosecutor for Organised Crime's office.

"To avoid a bloodbath and casualties in an arrest, we were offered his unconditional surrender to Serbia, for which he has not demanded any special conditions," then Serbian Justice Minister Nikola Selakovic told a press conference the same day.

Serbian officials said security agents from Serbia and 15 other countries had followed Saric and his associates constantly for 270 days.

The Prosecutor for Organised Crime accused Saric of smuggling more than five tons of cocaine and of laundering at least 22 million euros.

The trial soon became known for postponements of hearings because of the absence of lawyers and medical issues.

On November 27, 2017, the President of the Belgrade Court reassigned one of the judges from the Trial Chamber in the case, which means it had to start again.

Previously, another judge from the Trial Chamber was also reassigned.   

In 2015, Saric was convicted of drug smuggling and sentenced to 20 years in prison, but an appeal court...