Members of the Transport and Communications Committee stated: Dragan Čović's son-in-law cannot be protected from public hearings

(Patria) - Neither the director Davorin Primorac nor his deputy Tomislav Martinović appeared at today's public hearing of the BHANSA management before the House of Representatives PS BiH Transport and Communications Committee, as announced by Patria on Sunday.

This is the third time that Primorac and Martinović have avoided a direct meeting with the Committee members, on the topic of BHANSA's work. This time, both are out of the country, while on the previous two occasions they were on sick leave.

Committee member Jasmin Emrić (NES) assessed that this is a continuous pattern of avoiding attendance at hearings.

“So, it is obvious that they are using some tactics to avoid attending the hearing. We know from before, when we scheduled a hearing for BHANSA management, that they got sick for a longer period. Alright, that can happen. We understood it that way, but it is obvious that these techniques of avoiding attendance at hearings before the Committee are continuing,” said Emrić, N1 reports.

He pointed out that they were informed by email on Saturday that they would not attend the hearing.

He added that all of this gives the impression that the BHANSA management is counting on the Committee eventually giving up on the hearing.

“Obviously, they are aiming for us to get tired of our request. Six months ago, the Committee made a decision to hear the BHANSA management, and for six months, the management, i.e., the director and deputy, are obviously trying to diminish the Committee's importance,” he stated.

Emrić stated that the Committee must not abandon the implementation of its decision and that the law must apply equally to everyone.

“We must insist on implementing that decision, no matter how long it takes, to clarify to all heads of institutions that the law applies equally to everyone, including those who have direct political support from the leaders of the powerful in the Collegium of the House of Peoples. Therefore, Dragan Čović's son-in-law cannot be protected from public hearings. He cannot,” said Emrić.

He also reminded that the entire procedure started because, as he stated, the BHANSA management did not provide the Committee with the requested data.

“They did not want to provide basic data to the Committee, and that is why everything started. That is why we requested a hearing because they did not provide us with data in a timely manner,” said Emrić.

Committee member Šemsudin Mehmedović (Naprijed) stated that he is convinced that the hearing of the BHANSA management will be held, either before the Committee or before the prosecution.

“The hearing of the BHANSA management will be either before the Committee or before the prosecution. There is no doubt about that,” said Mehmedović.

He added that the Committee will continue to insist that the hearing be held within the framework of parliamentary oversight, regardless of who it concerns.

“And we will continue to insist that the hearing be held before this Committee, regardless of who it concerns, whether it is sons-in-law or grandsons or I don't know who else,” Mehmedović emphasized.

He assessed that the formal explanations for non-attendance indicate a fear of possible criminal liability.

“This formal request for reasons for not attending the hearing before the Committee is actually an indicator that they fear criminal liability by covering themselves with sick leave, official trips, annual leave, and so on,” he said.

He also announced that the Committee, at the continuation of the session, could adopt conclusions calling for accountability from those institutions that are formally responsible for BHANSA, including the BHANSA Council and the Council of Ministers of BiH.

“If they do not respond, they will respond to the prosecutor's office's summons. I am convinced of that,” Mehmedović stated.

Incidentally, director Primorac's mandate expired on March 25, and the BHANSA Council has not announced a new competition. In this way, Primorac remains in office, although he has been heading BHANSA for 11 years.