BHANSA: Cashier Dejan Pudar Suspected of Embezzling 400,000 BAM

The Bosnia and Herzegovina Air Navigation Services Agency (BHANSA) has confirmed that its chief cashier has been suspended due to a “serious breach of official duty,” reports the Patria news agency. 

BHANSA Director Davorin Primorac confirmed in a written statement the reporting by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) BiH that one person had been suspended due to suspicion of embezzlement of money from the cash register.

“Based on the Preliminary Report of the Cash Register Status Team, and in accordance with legal provisions, disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against the chief cashier due to a serious breach of official duty,” Primorac stated.

As stated in the announcement, due to suspicion of a criminal offense related to the duties of the chief cashier, a report has been filed with the competent prosecutor's office.

“The Agency Council, and subsequently the Council of Ministers of BiH, were promptly informed of all steps taken. I emphasize that we respect the presumption of innocence of every individual until proven otherwise, and we ask for understanding for not appearing in public regarding this case while the investigation is ongoing,” the BHANSA statement reads.

Primorac was not available for comment today, nor was the allegedly suspected cashier Dejan Pudar.

As BIRN BiH learns, some BHANSA officials went on sick leave after the article about the missing money from the cash register was published.

BIRN BiH reported on Wednesday that BHANSA, after reviewing its financial operations at the end of last month, suspended the agency's cashier on suspicion of embezzlement.

Although the BHANSA management did not want to comment on the exact amount of money involved, BIRN BiH learned that the suspected missing amount is around 400,000 marks.

BHANSA Council Chairman Besim Mehmedić said the entire case has been handed over to the prosecutor's office.

“I cannot speak about names or the amount of money suspected to have been misappropriated. It is not even important; if it were one mark of state money, the case must be reported and investigated. I can say that the missing sum is quite incriminating. The BHANSA Council decided, after the evidence and findings were presented to us, to suspend that person and hand the entire case over to the competent authorities for investigation. We are a public institution and there is no reason to hide anything. The Council did what it had to do,” Mehmedić said.