4.5 Percent Still Not Respecting Self-Isolation Measures

(Patia) - Spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Sarajevo Canton, Mirza Hadžiabdić, also responded to questions from journalists and our fellow citizens at today's press conference of the KS Government and Civil Protection Staff.

The first question was related to the fines issued during this period and the method of their payment. "In accordance with the valid Law on Misdemeanors of the FBiH, Article 23, Paragraph 2, in conjunction with Article 57 of the same law, persons who accept responsibility and pay the imposed fine within eight days are exempted from 50 percent of the amount of that fine. This also applies to all fines issued by police officers of the Police Administration of the MUP of KS and related to the violation of movement bans these days, in accordance with the orders of the Federal Civil Protection Staff," Hadžiabdić specified.

Answering the question about how many people violated the mentioned order in the past 24 hours, he pointed out that 35 misdemeanor orders for violating the movement ban between 8 PM and 5 AM were issued. "From the moment the movement ban was introduced by the Federal Civil Protection Staff, from March 22 to today, about 300 misdemeanor orders of this type have been issued," Hadžiabdić emphasized.

Hadžiabdić also answered the question about accommodation in the facility in Suhodol and the undertaking of additional sanctions against those who violate self-isolation.

"The facility in Suhodol is in the final stage of preparation. Yesterday, an order for compulsory isolation was issued, defining that all activities related to putting such facilities into full operation must be completed within three days. Persons for whom isolation has been ordered by inspection decisions and who do not comply with it will stay in this facility. Such persons will be taken to execute forced, i.e., compulsory isolation in this facility until the time specified in their decision," Hadžiabdić explained.

Regarding the transportation of children, Hadžiabdić emphasized that the MUP of KS is obliged to implement the orders of the competent staffs and is not in a position to further interpret this order.

"Police implement the orders of competent authorities. They are binding for implementation. In exceptional circumstances, if there is a need for it, the necessary transportation of a child may occur, for example, to go to the doctor," Hadžiabdić explained.

He also stated that there were similar questions concerning persons over 65 years of age, and emphasized that they can also go to the doctor in exceptional cases, provided they have a referral and it is confirmed in their medical records. He appealed to citizens to adhere to all measures of the competent authorities, especially those for whom a self-isolation measure has been determined, as the MUP will have to act according to the order which includes the implementation of the compulsory isolation measure.

"In the last 24 hours, out of 994 persons checked, 45 were not found at their address, which is about 4.5 percent of those who do not respect this order," said Hadžiabdić.