Fuad Kasumović sentenced to four years in prison, non-final ruling

(Patria) - The Cantonal Court in Zenica sentenced the Mayor of Zenica, Fuad Kasumović, to four years in prison. In addition to Kasumović, Vahdet Drino was sentenced to 2 years, Almira Baručija-Kapidžić, Amel Krivdić to one year, Mesud Ormanović to one year, Asmir Mašić, Edin Mehić, Zlatko Osmanović, Besim Husaković, Abdulah Kratina, and Amela Đozo. All were convicted of the criminal offense of association for the purpose of committing criminal offenses, including abuse of position and authority. Kasumović was also banned from performing the duties of mayor for a period of six years after the verdict becomes legally binding.

The verdict is not final. The defense and the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office of Zenica have the right to appeal to the Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Mayor of Zenica was not present for the announcement of the verdict.

According to the indictment under which Kasumović and others were found guilty, the Mayor of Zenica, in his official capacity, appointed Almira Baručija-Kapidžić as a consultant for legal affairs. She performed the de facto duties of the Mayor's Chief of Staff and made decisions on all important matters within the scope of the City Administration's work, all under his authority, and then appointed her first as a senior expert associate in the Mayor's Office Service, and then as the head of the Mayor's Office Service.

“At the same time, with the aim of preventing and more severely harming creditors, primarily the Tax Administration of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, from collecting its due claims against the taxpayer JKP “Zenicatrans – prevoz putnika” d.d. Zenica, which on the date of the opening of the bankruptcy proceedings, December 21, 2020, amounted to KM 7,887,053.71 with interest, which claims the Tax Administration of FBiH was supposed to pay into the Budget of the Federation of BiH, ZDK, Central Bosnia Canton, Tuzla Canton, and the City, and with the intention of registering new legal entities,” the indictment states.

Drino is accused as the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Baručija Kapidžić as the Chairperson of the Assembly of JKP “Zenicatrans – prevoz putnika”, Husaković as the Director of JKP “Zenicatrans – prevoz putnika”, Osmanović as the City Prosecutor and legal representative of the City of Zenica, Mašić as the internal auditor, Krivdić and Ormanović as members of the Supervisory Board of JKP “Zenicatrans – prevoz putnika”, Mehić as the Director of the Economic Services Company “Računovodstvo” and as an authorized auditor at the auditing firm “Reviform”, and Kratina as the Head of the Land Registry Office at the Municipal Court in Zenica, writes Istraga.ba.