Background
As the head of a public water company, Zoran Šabanović felt he had a duty to respond to newspaper allegations that the local water supply was unsafe to drink. The contamination claims were based on a report drawn up at the request of a public official.
Zoran called a press conference. He told the public that the water was safe to drink. Zoran claimed that the public official who requested the study was working to promote the interests of private companies.
The public official started libel proceedings against Zoran, claiming that his statements were untrue. Zoran denied this.
The Montenegrin courts found Zoran guilty of defamation and gave him a three-month suspended prison sentence.