Išerić: Authorities say one thing and do another, and I don't think they have a sincere desire to deal with crime and corruption

(Patria) - Hrvoje Čabrajić is the name of the first head of the federal USKOK, a special department of the FBiH Prosecutor's Office tasked with fighting corruption and organized crime.

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Hrvoje Čabrajić elected head of POSKOK, prosecutor in KS Prosecutor's Office since 2016

(Patria) - The High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH (HJPC) appointed Hrvoje Čabrajić as special deputy chief prosecutor of the FBiH, i.e., head of the Special Department for Combating Corruption, Organized and Inter-Cantonal Crime. Čabraj

Legal expert Enver Išerić was a guest on the show '7Plus' on Hayat Television tonight, and among other things, he spoke about this appointment and the start of the work of this department of the FBiH Prosecutor's Office.

- First of all, I would say that it is good that we have finally got the first head of the special department of the FBiH Prosecutor's Office, who will play a key role in the fight against crime and corruption in FBiH.

At the same time, it is a sad fact that the Law on Combating Corruption was passed a full ten years ago and that the authorities have not been able to provide the conditions for this department to start working for so long.

This in a way indicates that the authorities say one thing and do another, and I don't think they have a sincere intention to deal with crime and corruption because they themselves are closely intertwined with crime and corruption.

The arrest and investigation of ministers in the Council of Ministers itself is evidence of this, says Išerić.

He adds that it is tragic that the FBiH Parliament, as the legislative body that passed this law, has no mechanism to monitor the implementation of its decisions and to hold someone accountable in cases like this.

- In special departments, like this one, the most capable prosecutors must be in these positions, those who have very successful work behind them, a large number of cases, and who have shown sincere commitment to fighting crime and corruption through their work so far.

The selection of the third-ranked candidate somewhat casts doubt on the entire process, although it doesn't have to mean anything in the end.

I still think that we in BiH lack objectivity in selecting the best, regardless of the position, adds Išerić.

He emphasizes that time will tell all the answers, but the fact is that the entire judiciary in Bosnia and Herzegovina must be more efficient.

- We in the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina have a list of so-called A cases that was handed over to us by the Hague Tribunal, and in those files, there is a sufficient number of evidence that these individuals committed war crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This list, I think, includes about 860 people for whom there is sufficient evidence to arrest and prosecute them.

According to my information, only about 50 people from that list have been prosecuted so far, but I was shocked when I heard two days ago that investigations against 120 people from that list have been suspended in various prosecutor's offices.

I repeat, this is the A list determined by the Hague Tribunal, and it implies sufficient evidence for prosecution, and this A list must have priority in proceedings.

Therefore, twenty years after the establishment of the A list, we as the judiciary of Bosnia and Herzegovina have almost no results, and the Prosecutor's Office is opening new cases for defenders of Bosnia and Herzegovina and for generals of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and members of the ARBiH, and not prosecuting cases from the A list of the Hague Tribunal, adds Išerić.