Federal Prosecutor's Office Proposes Restrictive Measures for Debevec and Mehmedagić, Defense Considers Them Unnecessary

(Patria) - The Special Department of the Federal Prosecutor's Office for the accused Ranko Debevec and Osman Mehmedagić has requested the imposition of travel bans and prohibitions on meeting with witnesses, while the defense opposed these proposals.

Prosecutor Jovo Karić from the Special Department of the Federal Prosecutor's Office stated that the last control of restrictive measures against the accused Debevec and Mehmedagić was on October 28, 2025. He proposed that Debevec be issued a travel ban, that his travel documents, which were already confiscated, be taken away, that the issuance of new ones be prohibited, and that travel with an ID card be prohibited.

A prohibition on meeting with witnesses was requested for Debevec and Mehmedagić.

"Debevec has Spanish citizenship, owns property in Spain. He has the possibility to leave the country and be unavailable. He is aware of the criminal procedure actions he is accused of. There is a fear that they would influence witnesses during the proceedings," Karić explained.

Kerim Čelik, Debevec's defense attorney, pointed out that it is not about real estate, but about one apartment that is co-owned with his wife. He stated that the Prosecutor's Office, in its proposal for imposing measures, testifies and presents its interpretation of witness testimonies, which is unacceptable.

"It submitted a CD with evidence before the witnesses were heard by the Court. We oppose such a proposal. It is pointless to explain the grounded suspicion through witness testimonies," Čelik added.

He stated that he does not object to the proposal of prohibiting meetings with witnesses in principle, but that they reject the Prosecutor's reasons. He believes that the travel ban for Debevec removes his possibility of treatment abroad and travel to see his daughter. He added that this is manipulation and discrediting of Debevec. He proposed that the Court reject the Prosecutor's proposal as unfounded.

Debevec reiterated that it is clear to everyone that it is about half of an apartment, which he and his wife bought with loan funds in 1999. As he stated, humiliating actions are being taken against his person.

"I ask the Court to return my travel documents so that I can receive treatment and rest. With a firm promise that I have no intention of fleeing, because I want to prove my innocence before this court," said Debevec, adding that if serious criminal offenses are involved here, then a single judge would not be presiding.

Lawyer Nermin Mulalić stated that Mehmedagić does not know most of the witnesses and that the danger of contact does not exist. He believes that meeting with witnesses should be sanctioned, whether such measures exist or not.

"How can a measure of prohibition of approaching witnesses be implemented if he does not know the witnesses?" Mulalić said, explaining that the accused can pass by a witness without even realizing it.

Debevec, the suspended president of the Court of BiH, is accused of abuse of position or authority, forgery of an official document, accepting a reward or other form of benefit for trading influence, unauthorized wiretapping and audio or visual recording, and for misrepresentation and violation of the Law on Gender Equality of BiH.

Debevec, according to the second count of the indictment, is accused of ordering an employee of the Court of BiH, assigned to the position of secret data protection associate, to delete or destroy data from the official court books regarding issued orders and decisions in cases.

Mehmedagić, former director of OSA, is charged with forgery of an official document, as well as abuse of position or authority, while Milisav Pijuk, an employee of the Court of BiH, is included with Debevec in the indictment for unauthorized wiretapping and audio or visual recording, for misrepresentation and violation of the Law on Gender Equality of BiH.

At the beginning of the hearing, judge Ajla Papović-Mujan returned the envelope with the submitted evidence to the Prosecutor's Office with the proposal that the Court not familiarize itself with it at this stage of the proceedings.

The decision on the measures will be made later.