Lawyer for Damir Hadžić: As soon as I receive the decision, we will appeal the re-imposition of custody

Damir Hadžić, former mayor of Novi Grad Municipality, arrested in the Blok operation on November 30, 2016, will remain in custody based on the decision of the pre-trial judge, reports the Patria agency.

Although the Council of the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo made a decision on Friday to revoke the custody order based on the lawyer's appeal, a new decision was made on Saturday.

- The pre-trial judge made a decision to impose custody. As soon as I receive the decision, we will appeal that decision – said Davor Martinović, Damir Hadžić's lawyer.

Hadžić is accused of the criminal offense of abuse of position, by enabling the payment of over one million marks from the municipal budget to Esed Radeljaš, a former councilor in Novi Grad, a representative, and a minister in the BPK Government, who was arrested as part of the Blok operation on November 9 and is in custody. Radeljaš is suspected of the criminal offenses of certifying untrue content, incitement to abuse of position, giving gifts and other benefits, and money laundering. Radeljaš's custody has been extended.

Also arrested in the operation were Jasmina Horo, assistant to the former mayor of Novi Grad Municipality Damir Hadžić, Nedžad Kapetanović, former legal representative of Novi Grad Municipality, and Jusuf Čaušević, head of the Department for Property-Legal Affairs of Novi Grad Municipality.

Measures prohibiting contact were imposed on Horo, Kapetanović, and Čaušević, but Horo was subsequently arrested for a new criminal offense of inciting an expert witness to abuse his assessment, and she was ordered into one month of custody. Court expert Kasim Zulum, who was arrested, was released and is a witness in the proceedings.