Benjamin Hasanagić's father was sitting behind the journalist, in the section intended for the audience, just a few meters from the judge. As he uttered the embarrassing question, he gestured with his fingers as if he was counting money. He had previously asked, "What are you?"
Novakovic answered: "A journalist."
A few seconds earlier, in front of the judge, there was a heated argument between one of the witnesses, the defense attorneys of the accused inspectors, and the prosecutor. Everyone in the courtroom was trying to figure out if the witness said he was "not afraid" in a certain situation, and then a few minutes later said he was "still afraid." Even the journalists present intervened in the discussion, including the journalist Novaković, who addressed the judge and commented for the witness, "Yes, he said."
Was that enough reason for the father of one of the injured N1 journalists to ask the shameful question: "Do you want me to pay you for the article?"
"Shame on you!"
The voice of the distraught journalist broke through the courtroom and stopped all discussion.
"Shame on you, how are you not ashamed? And that's how you address me in the courtroom and in front of the judge! A shame. Why aren't you ashamed to say something like that?"
Everyone fell silent for a moment. Journalist N1, who holds herself and her profession to herself, defended herself publicly in front of the entire judicial system. While those present were trying to understand what had happened, judge Milan Grkinić asked what it was about.
Journalist Novaković was clear.
"Judge, he was offering me money for the article."
Judge Grkinić immediately asked Hasanagić to leave the courtroom with a message that he was forbidden to attend the trial in the future.
And that was the end of it. Nothing to anyone. But that's why the very questionable trial of the inspectors who discovered Jovanjica, according to the indictment the largest drug factory in Europe, continued.
Self-saving journalistic honor
In the style of absurdity we live in, a humiliating, frightening, and perhaps illegal question was asked to a journalist in the middle of the Palace of Justice.
Ana Novaković did the only thing that saved the journalism profession - she raised her voice and thus defended her honor, journalism, but also the place where "justice is served".
Although the judge reacted quickly and expelled Hasanagić, it is worrying that he did not ask the prosecutor to at least consider whether there was an attempted criminal offense in that act.
Then Hasanagić would have the opportunity to explain whether he really intended to "pay handsomely" to the journalist for the text or if he "just" wanted to insult her. If his intention was to insult her, that is punishable, and in a civilized system, journalists' insults are really paid handsomely, without the article even being written, when the Court decides so and punishes the culprit.
The public prosecutor turns her head
It is also unknown whether this case was entered into the minutes of the trial at all.
It is also worrying that the prosecutor Danijela Kljajić was present in the courtroom, trying to present herself as zealous in the fight against Javašluka. Kljajić is a prosecutor in the Anti-Corruption Department of the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade.
However, while the journalist testifies publicly, in the courtroom, that she was offered "money for the article", while the question arises as to whether the law is being violated right then and there, the prosecutor turns her head on everything.
Attacks on journalists have become commonplace from the street to the courtroom.
The search for justice remains drowned in the heavy silence of judicial institutions. And the only hope that lawlessness will not be forgotten is journalists. Because when the institutions are silent, history is written by those who report in the public interest - journalists.
