Italian media on the Highways Affair: European Prosecutor's Office investigating six people

(Patria) - On Sunday, October 15, 2023, a table was reserved at the "Soho Kafe" restaurant in East Sarajevo.

Three Bosnian public officials were present: the general director of the state-owned highway company JP Autoceste Denis Lasić, executive director Asmir Dževlan, and his assistant Katica Vranjković.

Also present were the former minister in the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Erdal Trhulj, now an advisor to the same institution. And two Italians, representatives of the consulting firm Technital: Alessandro Veralli and Marco d’Alba, writes Francesco Furlan, journalist for La Nuova.

The meeting was urgent: it was necessary to "adjust" the financial offer to secure a lucrative contract – the Bosnian officials explained to the Italian representatives. This concerns the construction project of a 35-kilometer highway section between Medakovo and Poprikuše, part of the corridor connecting Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Adriatic Sea.

The offer presented by the company Technital was the second highest in value, but the Bosnian officials allegedly suggested a way to "improve" it and win the contract: it was enough to "adjust the financial part" of the offer, reports Istraga.ba.

This dinner at "Soho Kafe" is at the center of an international corruption investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Venice.

Prosecutor Donata Patricia Costa has placed six individuals under investigation. The investigation, launched after an anonymous tip, also involves the companies Technital and T3 Consulting.

The highway project is financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) with 87% of the funds, while BiH contributes the remaining 13%.

The investigation, conducted by the Carabinieri of Venice, has uncovered a series of evidence of possible bribery and corruption.

The deal, according to the prosecution, involved cash payments of bribes and the payment of laboratory tests worth 123,000 euros for a project valued at a total of 121 million euros.

The case led to searches at the headquarters of Technital in Verona and the suspension of several officials.

Upon the arrival of the new director, Zeid d’Agostino (formerly director of the Port of Trieste), the company dismissed several employees and removed responsible individuals from their positions.