Bogunić: A month ago I received information about Milorad Dodik's possible surrender

(Patria) - President of the HJPC Sanin Bogunić told the media today ahead of the HJPC session that it is "highly commendable that a suspected fugitive has surrendered to the judicial institutions of BiH", speaking about the case of Milorad Dodik.

"Regarding the methods of surrender and modalities, I am truly not the person called upon to say anything about it. I do not interfere in the operational procedures of courts and prosecutor's offices.

About a month ago, I received information that there was a possibility of Mr. Milorad Dodik's surrender. As for the conditions, or aspects of the surrender itself, his manner of arrival here, holding hearings, I truly did not have all those details. What is good is that suspects surrender," said Bogunić.

He added that he received information in this case from the Chief Prosecutor and his deputy, and that a joint meeting was held with the acting President of the Court of BiH, Minka Kreho, to see "what they would do with the judiciary" given that there was an attack on the judiciary at that moment.

He emphasized that there must be no negotiations in any other aspects, except for the aspects of surrender.

"All negotiations, I see that certain conditions regarding appellate judgments are being mentioned in the media, will be most severely punished if they are not lawful. I can guarantee you that as a responsible person. I will inquire about the details of the surrender, I see stories appearing in the media – he arrived in this or that way. The fact is that from the Court's perspective, nothing is unusual if it receives a proposal, any proposal for the lifting of detention, for example, since detention cases are urgent, to hold a hearing in accordance with the Law," stated Bogunić.

He added that the HJPC, which is completely independent in its work, will verify the legality of the actions of all prosecutors and judges, i.e., managers in this process.

"No one should have any doubts about that. We will do it. All of this that has been done does not give me the impression at first glance that the Criminal Procedure Code has been violated," concluded Bogunić.

For the President of the HJPC, there is nothing unusual in the joint statement of the Court and the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, emphasizing that there have been joint statements before, and that the Prosecutor's Office has the right to negotiate the surrender of a suspect.