Cantonal Court in Tuzla: Trial begins for 12 accused of sexual exploitation of minors, public excluded

(Patria) - The main hearing in one of the most complex criminal cases before this court, against a total of 12 accused, including 7 police officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tuzla Canton, for the criminal offense of Human Trafficking, related to the exploitation of two minor girls for the purpose of prostitution from April 2024 to the end of July 2025, has been opened by the trial panel of the Cantonal Court in Tuzla with the reading of the indictment.

In the said case, Besim Kopić, Šemsudin Kadrić, Miralem Halilović, Jasmin Modrić, and Sulejman Šehić are accused of the criminal offenses of Human Trafficking under Article 210a, Paragraph 2, and Human Trafficking under Article 210a, Paragraph 6, in conjunction with Paragraph 2, all in connection with Articles 54 and 55 of the Criminal Code of FBiH, Zijad Jagodić, Dževad Požegić, and Nedim Avdić for the criminal offense of Human Trafficking under Article 210a, Paragraph 6, in conjunction with Paragraph 2, and Article 55, and Emir Kadrić, Ismet Hujdur, Almir Hodžić, and Mirsad Jagodić, for the criminal offense of Human Trafficking under Article 210a, Paragraph 6, in conjunction with Paragraph 2 of the Criminal Code of FBiH.

At the beginning of the main hearing, the presiding judge of the trial panel, in accordance with Article 250 of the Law on Criminal Procedure of FBiH, after hearing the parties and defense counsel, announced the decision to exclude the public from the entire main hearing, due to the protection of the interests of the minor victims in the criminal proceedings.

This court will proceed lawfully and efficiently in the said case, taking into account the minor victims of the criminal offense, the nature and method of its commission, and the status of the accused who are public officials, i.e., police officers. In this regard, before the start of the trial, the dynamics of the trial, i.e., the presentation of evidence, were established, and it is planned that during the main hearing in this case, from the opening of the main hearing until September 2026, 13 hearings will be held, at which evidence will be presented, and witnesses and experts will be heard.

Transparency of this procedure will be ensured by the proactive action of the court, i.e., by publishing information on the progress of the proceedings and all significant decisions made, as well as by responding to inquiries, in accordance with the applicable criminal legislation. Upon completion of the first-instance proceedings before this court, the pronouncement of the verdict will be public.