Two men associated with one of the most dangerous criminal clans in the Balkans — the Kavački clan — were sentenced in Vienna for brutally torturing two people, Austrian media confirm. The verdicts were handed down after an extremely complex and security-sensitive trial, and the key charge against the defendants was the chilling messages intercepted from their encrypted communications.
Who are the convicts and what is their role in the clan?
It is about a 39-year-old citizen of Montenegro and his 50-year-old accomplice from Serbia. According to the portal Heuteboth of them were in the so-called to the “middle management” of the Belgrade cell of the Kavački clan. That cell, as stated, was operationally managed from Vienna, and was commanded by a man known by the nickname “Dexter”.
The notorious Kavački clan originates from Montenegro, and has been participating in a brutal conflict with the Skaljar clan from Kotor for years. That mafia war, which has lasted more than ten years, has been marked by liquidations across Europe, bombings and torture, and has been linked to at least 80 people killed worldwide.
The trial of the accused was held yesterday in Vienna with extremely high security measures. Police officers armed with long barrels secured the court building, while access was only allowed to a limited number of people. Both defendants were brought to the courtroom under strict escort.
At the end of the process, the court sentenced the two mobsters to six and seven years in prison for aggravated extortion. The judgments are still not final.
Torture in an apartment lined with plastic film: “Like scenes from the worst nightmares”
According to the indictment, the events took place in 2020. The defendants and their accomplices lured two people from Croatia to Vienna — a younger man they believed to be the son of a wealthy businessman and a 64-year-old man with a criminal background.
The victims were brought to an apartment that was completely covered with plastic film, which points to planned torture and cover-up. Hand saws, blades, pistols with silencers and other items were prepared in the room. The state attorney’s office described the scenes as something “otherwise seen only in crime dramas.”
The victims were tied up, beaten and exposed to death threats for hours. The younger man was tortured for more than four hours.
Messages from encrypted applications revealed brutality
The investigation came to key evidence thanks to intercepted communications from encrypted applications used by members of the clan. In the messages, which caused shock in the courtroom, the defendants sent their superiors updated information about the torture.
One message read: “If they don’t tell us where the money is soon, we’re going to have to start sawing.”
They wrote about the 64-year-old victim: “The old man’s done, this one hit him, brother, in the face. His whole face cracked… and he was cut with a knife.”
Allegedly, the elderly man tearfully promised 750,000 euros to save his life.
Victims released – but immediately forced to pay
After the torture, the victims were released, but under the threat of liquidation, they were forced to bring the money to Croatia. An elderly man, who, according to information from the investigation, was involved in cigarette smuggling, managed to collect only 10,000 euros. Part of the money was allegedly handed over to criminals, and the full amount was never found.
At the trial, the expected scene typical of mafia trials unfolded: the victims claimed in court that they “didn’t remember” anything, nor did they want to recognize the perpetrators. A similar situation happened with witnesses.
The prosecution pointed out that the so-called omertà — mafia code of silence — a regular obstacle in such cases.
At the same time, the defense made claims about “identity switching” and procedural errors, and part of the indictment really had to be changed during the process because it was not filed correctly.
(TIP/Source: federalna.ba/Photo: Heute)
