Despite court ban, Lijanović can still serve as minister

Deciding on the appeals of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the appeals of the defense attorney of the suspect Jerko Ivanković Lijanović, the defense attorney of the suspect Slavo Ivanković Lijanović, the defense attorney of the suspect Jozo Ivanković Lijanović, the defense attorney of the suspect Milorad Bahilj and the defense attorney of the suspect Mirko Galić, the panel of the Appellate Division of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina issued a decision on October 24, 2014, by which the suspects were released from custody and the following prohibition measures were imposed, the Court of BiH announced, as reported by the BiH news agency Patria. 

Prohibition measures:

- prohibition of leaving the place of residence and prohibition of travel (with temporary seizure of travel documents and prohibition of issuing new travel documents, as well as prohibition of using an ID card for crossing the state border of Bosnia and Herzegovina);

- prohibition of undertaking certain business activities or official duties;

- prohibition of visiting certain places or areas;

- prohibition of meeting with certain persons (with suspects and witnesses);

- obligation to periodically report to a certain state authority (once a week).

The imposed prohibition measures will last as long as there is a need for them, or until a different court decision, and the justification will be reviewed every two months.

The suspects were warned that if they violate the imposed prohibition measures, they may be placed in custody. Jerko Ivanković Lijanović, Slavo Ivanković Lijanović, Jozo Ivanković Lijanović, Milorad Bahilj, Jozo Slišković, Mirjana Šakota, Mirko Galić, Željko Mikulić, Zdravko Ivanković and Draženko Kvesić are suspected of the criminal offense of organized crime under Article 250 of the Criminal Code of BiH (CC BiH) in connection with the criminal offenses of tax evasion or fraud under Article 210 of the CC BiH, non-payment of taxes under Article 211 of the CC BiH, and money laundering under Article 209 of the CC BiH.

As explained by the Court of BiH for the BiH news agency Patria, Jerko Ivanković Lijanović was not imposed a prohibition measure regarding the official position of minister within the Government of the FBiH by this decision, and he can perform it. Otherwise, as reported by the media today, Ivanković Lijanović appeared at work today in the premises of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry of the FBiH.