Darko Saric, who is suspected of smuggling more than two tons of cocaine, is suing Serbia because of statements made by top-level state officials which "undermined the presumption of innocence" and is seeking RSD10 million from the state, announced Saric's lawyer Zdenko Tomanovic on Sept. 13.

Tomanovic filed a lawsuit on behalf of Saric because of statements made by President Boris Tadic, Justice Minister Snezana Malovic, Interior Minister Ivica Dacic and Ministry of Justice State Secretary Slobodan Homen.

"Representatives of states bodies cannot publicly judge or proclaim anyone guilty, including Darko Saric, before a trial has started," said Tomanovic in a statement.

"Representatives of the executive government have during many public appearances openly predicted the verdict and have pronounced Saric guilty before the start of the trial, bringing into question a just and fair trial, and together with a large number of newspaper articles and television reports have imposed a presumption of guilt," said Tomanovic.

The trial of Saric's group is scheduled to begin on Sept. 20 in the Special Court.

Saric is currently at large, and only 13 of a total of 20 suspects will stand trial because, like Saric, six other suspects are also at large.