Details of the Indictment against Muhamed Ajanović and Others: The Appointment of the Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Meliha Bašić, Also Disputed

(Patria) - The Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry in Sarajevo, Muhamed Ajanović, abused his position through several illegal actions - from illegally extending his own mandate to obtaining financial benefits for himself and others, writes Istraga.

According to the allegations in the indictment, against Ajanović and 13 other individuals in the "Koverta" case, which was confirmed by the Municipal Court in Sarajevo, Ajanović, at the end of 2023, with the help of cantonal inspector Dalila Hakalović, organized a change in the start date of his mandate in order to extend his stay at the head of the faculty.

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Indictment in the 'Koverta' Case Confirmed

(Patria) - The Municipal Court in Sarajevo confirmed the indictment in the high-level corruption case

Although his mandate was due to expire in April 2024, the goal was to move the start of the mandate to October 2020, thereby keeping him as dean until the end of September 2024.

In this, as stated in the indictment, he had the help of inspector Hakalović, who, after conducting a supervision, ordered changes to the decisions, and ultimately pressure was exerted on the Rector of the University, Rifat Škrijelj, to confirm such changes.

According to the indictment, during that period, Ajanović used his social and institutional influence and pressured Rector Škrijelj through frequent calls, demanding an urgent resolution of his status.

The Prosecutor's Office states that the rector, aware of Ajanović's influence, ultimately issued decisions moving the start of Ajanović's second mandate from April to October 2020. This allowed Ajanović to remain in office until the end of September 2024, although the law limits the mandate to two four-year terms.

The indictment further states that Ajanović did not announce a competition for the election of a new dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, although he was legally obliged to do so.

In order to avoid announcing the competition, he turned to the Ministry of Higher Education of the Sarajevo Canton, after which the Assistant Minister Dženita Viteškić and Minister Adna Mesihović issued an instruction that announcing the competition was not "expedient."

The Prosecutor's Office states that this instruction served as an excuse not to initiate the procedure for electing a new dean at all, thereby allowing Ajanović to remain in office.

The second part of the indictment describes Ajanović's favoritism towards his associate Selma Tosum Pošković, who simultaneously held two positions - Vice Dean for Postgraduate Studies of the Faculty of Dentistry with Clinics and Head of the Clinic for Dental Prosthetics with Dental Implantology.

Although the Statute of the University of Sarajevo clearly stipulates that "a vice dean cannot simultaneously perform the function of the head of a sub-organizational unit," Ajanović did not relieve Tosum Pošković of those functions and thus, as stated in the indictment, enabled her to receive a higher salary than she was entitled to, thereby obtaining a benefit of around 6,800 BAM for her, while the faculty was damaged by the same amount.

Later, according to the indictment, he also approved an additional bonus of 900 BAM for her, with an explanation that did not correspond to the actual situation.

Ajanović is also charged with paying himself over 11,000 BAM for unused annual leave, although he was not entitled to it.

In the request he sent to the Management Board of the University of Sarajevo, he stated that due to obligations he could not use his annual leave. After receiving approval for this, as acting dean, he himself made the decision and executed the payment of the money.

Former Minister of Science, Higher Education and Youth of the Sarajevo Canton, Adna Mesihović, is charged with illegally enabling the employment of several individuals in the Ministry.

The part of the indictment relating to Mesihović also discusses the appointment of Professor Meliha Bašić as Dean of the Faculty of Economics in Sarajevo.

It is stated that in the period from April to July 2024, Adna Mesihović and Dženita Viteškić abused their powers with the aim of enabling Bašić's appointment to the position of dean.

Although they were aware that the procedure for electing the dean of that faculty was not conducted in accordance with the law, i.e., that the secrecy of the vote was compromised due to improper handling of ballots, Viteškić ordered the drafting of a decision accepting the faculty's appeal and annulling the inspection's finding.

Mesihović then, knowingly disregarding the established irregularities and her obligation to ensure the legality of the work, issued a decision annulling the earlier inspection decision, thereby enabling the election process to be concluded in favor of Meliha Bašić, who was elected dean for the mandate period 2024-2028.

In addition to Muhamed Ajanović, Adna Mesihović and Dženita Viteškić, the indictment for the criminal offenses of abuse of office or authority, receiving a reward or other form of benefit for influence peddling, and fraud in office has been confirmed against Ibrahim Obhođaš and the Minister of Labor, Social Policy, Displaced Persons and Refugees in the Government of the Sarajevo Canton, Enda Pavić Pečenković, Dalila Hakalović, Murat Ramadanović, Mersiha Šabaredžović Klačar, Jasminka Sijerčić, Maida Čohodar Husić, Lidija Zvačko Pehar, Dejan Milošević, Kasim Bajrović, and Emina Kiseljaković.

Minister Pavić Pečenković (SDP) is charged with illegally amending the Ministry's rulebook which she heads in order to enable the employment of Ibrahim Obhođaš's sister.

Muhamed Ajanović was recently released from custody with restraining measures. Pavić Pečenković continues to perform the function of cantonal minister of labor and social policy, and Adna Mesihović (ZNG) is a representative in the Assembly of the Sarajevo Canton.