Escudero, with the Municipality of Budva, was in a business deal in 2008 with the desalinization of water in the metropolis of tourism, and Democrats say that investigators have to determine who, when and why the Spaniard was introduced to Budva, and then let go with the citizen's money.
While photographer is now exhibiting in New York, Pejovic asks why he does not bring his works to Budva:
"That would be logical, if a million business had been developed here. He has been exhibiting worldwide for years, even last year in Belgrade, but he never came to Budva and presented his artistic opus. There is a reasonable suspicion that Ruben was part of the organized criminal group of DPS in Budva and that his role in the group was to export all the robbed money abroad and money launder it through offshore companies," said the Democrat’s Vice President.
Pejović PHOTO: Democratic Montenegro
It has to be said that the Spanish photographer was interested in the desalination project, contacted the municipal management and founded a joint venture with them called Mediterranean WTE.
This project was dealt by the prosecution headed by Milivoje Katnić during the investigation of major corruption cases in Budva.
"Vijesti" was told that this case is one of the most complicated ones and that the prosecutors are challenging to uncover and find out how companies have been replaced, and millions of credits in the end have been left to Budva's citizens for payment.
The company “WTE Seawater Desalination” built the facility in Zavala in 2008, and in the same year the representatives of the Budva Water Pipeline concluded a contract with them for the takeover of potable water.
The contract was extremely disadvantageous for the Municipality, because the Water company obliged the water be taken over even during the winter months, although there was no need for that.
The plant, however, has never practically been operational in full capacity - it worked a couple of times during the dry summers of 2008 and 2009, but the accounts were regularly delivered to the Water company for payments.
How the creditor's debts have been carried out, was stated by the State Audit Institution in detail in the Final Account Report for 2015.
It is reported that the company for desalination of seawater "WTE Seawater Desalination", with Hypo Alpe Adria Bank (HAAB), on May 7th, 2008 concluded a long-term loan agreement of EUR 5,300,000.
The loan is approved for the purchase and installation of the desalination plant for seawater.
However, in the story then enters the "Mediterranean WTE" - a firm in which Budva Municipality owns 49 percent of the capital, while the rest is owned by the photographer Ruben.
This company then concludes a long-term agreement with the bank and the company "WTE Seawater Desalination", i.e. a long-term loan agreement of 5.3 million euros.
"On December 30th, 2008, the Municipal Assembly of Budva made the Decision on joining the Mediterranean WTE and became the owner of 49 percent of the founder's capital. On the same day, it issued a Decision on granting long-term debt to the Mediterranean WTE, for a loan amounting to EUR 8,358,369.36, of which EUR 5,300,000 to HAAB. At the end of June 2010, the Agreement on Solidarity is concluded between HAAB (Creditors), WTE Desulfurization of the Sea Water (Debtor), Mediterranean WTE (Beneficiary Debt) and Budva Municipality and Public Water supply company (solidary guarantor) for the amount of 5.3 million euros," it was then reported in the DRI report
However, this is not the end - the Water Supply company and the Municipality on 1st August 2013 concluded an agreement on deferment of obligations under the Solidarity Treaty. On the day the agreement was signed, the remaining debt amounted to EUR 4,500,000, of which the Water Supply obligations amounted to 2,100,000, and the Municipality’s to 2,300,000 EUR. Finally, on October 6th, 2014, a new agreement was signed between the Municipality and the Water Supply company for the demarcation of liabilities - the debt balance on the signing day was 3.200.000. Municipal debt is one and a half million and Water supply company 1.700.000 euros.
Vodovod will also conclude the out-of-court settlement in 2014, after which it pays 650,000 euros to the Spaniard and buys the desalination plant at Zavala.
Subsequently, the Municipal Assembly decides on liquidation of the company Mediterranean WTE.
In the beginning of 2016, the Municipality and the Water supply company returned the million loan that remained in their testament.
Text by Vuk Lajovic, on October 19th, 2018, read more at Vijesti
