Former BiH Prosecutor Eric Larson Appointed US Anti-Corruption Advisor in Sarajevo Canton

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Eric Larson, former international prosecutor at the BiH Prosecutor's Office, has been appointed as a senior anti-corruption advisor to the Anti-Corruption and Quality Management Office of Sarajevo Canton (KS).

Representatives of the United States Embassy in BiH visited the Anti-Corruption and Quality Management Office of Sarajevo Canton today. The visit is part of regular contacts that representatives of the Political Section, INL, and FBI have with the Office regarding the implementation of anti-corruption measures and the Law on Reporting and Verification of Property Data of Public Office Holders in Sarajevo Canton.

During the conversation with the Head of the Office, Erduan Kafedžić, the continuous support provided by the US Embassy to the work of this Office in the field of corruption prevention and fight was emphasized. It was announced that the candidate for the position of senior anti-corruption advisor has been selected, as announced in November by Ambassador Eric Nelson and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Jorgan Andrews.

Eric Larson is expected to take up his duties in the first half of the year. He is currently serving as a senior justice advisor at the US Embassy in Montenegro. He is a former prosecutor with extensive experience in the region, including work on corruption cases, and he also served as an international prosecutor in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He will be based and will work at the Anti-Corruption and Quality Management Office of Sarajevo Canton.

Head of Office Kafedžić informed the representatives of the US Embassy about the implementation of the Law on Reporting and Verification of Property Data of Public Office Holders in Sarajevo Canton, and emphasized that it is a unique anti-corruption law that establishes the obligation for public office holders to report their assets and income, the origin and changes in assets and income, as well as gifts received during their public service. In addition to their personal assets, public office holders are obliged to report the assets of their close relatives.

The Law entered into force on May 11, 2019. The primary purpose of the Law is transparency and public oversight of work, as well as the prevention of corrupt practices and illicit enrichment of public office holders in Sarajevo Canton. The Law ensures the financial independence of the Office, as one of the most important prerequisites for a successful and effective fight against corruption. In implementing the Law, the Office has so far issued 196 misdemeanor orders to public office holders for failing to report their assets in the manner and within the deadlines prescribed by the Law. At the same time, the Office has initiated 100 verification procedures for the property data of as many public office holders. Head Kafedžić thanked the US Embassy in BiH for their continuous support in carrying out the activities within the Office's jurisdiction.

"We are pleased that the embassy has recognized the Office as a worthy partner in implementing anti-corruption activities. This support from the embassy means a lot to us, and we sincerely hope and believe that it will continue in the future. Considering the importance of the fight against corruption and the significance of that fight in creating a democratic society based on the principles of the rule of law, we consider the support of the US Embassy in BiH to be necessary, and in certain cases, essential," stated Kafedžić.