Dr. Čehić sues Mayor Kasumović for defamation

Dr. Ermin Čehić has sued Zenica Mayor Fuad Kasumović for defamation, after Kasumović accused Čehić of bribing city councilors in Zenica. In his lawsuit, Čehić demanded 7,000 KM in damages from Kasumović.

- The money I receive from this verdict will be paid to the account of the Football Club 'Čelik' – said Dr. Čehić.

Kasumović proposed, and the city councilors supported by a majority vote, an increase in utility taxes for betting shops operating in Zenica, from the previous 3,000 to 30,000 to 50,000 KM, depending on the betting shop's location. The organizers consider such an increase in taxes to be unconstitutional. Discriminatory. The Constitutional Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, they explain, has already overturned similar or identical decisions in the past.

Some councilors from the Zenica City Council think the same. Six councilors from Snaga Centra and two from A-SDA requested an assessment of the constitutionality of the Decision on new taxes for betting shops in Zenica. They believe that only by quickly resolving this dispute can the Court save the betting shops from what they claim is a questionable decision, as well as the city budget from a potential lawsuit that could be initiated by the game organizers...

Mayor Kasumović accused Dr. Ermin Čehić of bribing the councilors who are requesting an assessment of the constitutionality of this decision.

- I believe that these councilors have been bribed through Doctor Ermin Čehić..., who walks around and carries money and bribes everyone, and exerts pressure on the regular authorities – the mayor accused, among other things.

- Secondly, the Prime Minister of Zenica-Doboj Canton, Miralem Galijašević, has nothing to adopt (the Government of Zenica-Doboj Canton can submit the assessment of the constitutionality of the Decision on utility taxes in Zenica to the Constitutional Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, note by the editor). The City Council made the Decision, and those councilors subsequently succumbed to the pressure of financial means, and that is their problem – Kasumović said.

Dr. Čehić filed a defamation lawsuit against Mayor Kasumović. He believes that with his statements, the mayor has put him and his family in an unfavorable position. He also adds that he does not understand why the mayor is angry when the constitutionality of the Decision he proposed is being discussed. "Kasumović previously said that he consulted with the Constitutional Court before proposing an increase in taxes for betting shops."

- Representatives of betting shops, as well as councilors, are using legal, completely lawful means. Everyone has the right to seek help from the Constitutional Court, just as after that there is an obligation to respect the Court's decision, whatever it may be – says Čehić.