'Envelope' exposed corruption in the KS Government and public sector: Why no condemnation, suspensions, or reactions from ruling parties?

By Amra Vrabac

The Municipal Court in Sarajevo confirmed the indictment on April 6 in the Envelope case, which is being treated as a high-level corruption case. The indictment was confirmed against Adna Mesihović, Dženita Viteškić, Ibrahim Obhođaš, Enda Pavić Pečenković, Muhamed Ajanović, Dalila Hakalović, Murat Ramadanović, Mersiha Šabaredžović Klačar, Jasminka Sijerčić, Maida Čohodar Husić, Lidija Zvačko Pehar, Dejan Milošević, Kasim Bajrović, and Emina Kiseljaković.

This case has damaged the reputation of the University of Sarajevo, the UNSA Steering Committee, and the Sarajevo Canton Government, yet this did not prevent the University of Sarajevo from defending the accused, stating that among them are "our esteemed professors, colleagues, who through their long-standing academic and public engagement, as well as through their roles as members of the UNSA Steering Committee, have made a significant contribution to the development of the University of Sarajevo and the wider social community."

"Their professional integrity, expertise, and dedication to the academic community have left a lasting and recognizable mark on the overall work of the University. The University of Sarajevo expresses special respect for their work and contributions to date," the University of Sarajevo's reaction stated on March 19.

Without disputing the academic careers of the accused, the question arises whether this stance of UNSA is supported by its 2,700 employees. On the day the indictment was sent for confirmation, the University of Sarajevo stood in defense of those who neglected the interests of the University itself and worked in the interest of individuals. We have not heard UNSA's stance on this.

The KS Prosecutor's Office also requested the imposition of restrictive measures against the accused. For Muhamed Ajanović, a ban on performing the function of Dean at the Faculty of Dentistry, a ban on visiting the Faculty of Dentistry, the Sarajevo Canton Inspectorate Administration, and the Ministry of Science, Higher Education, and Youth of KS, a travel ban, and a ban on contacting witnesses and suspects were requested.

For Dalila Hakalović, a ban on performing the function of Chief Educational Inspector at KUIP, a ban on visiting the inspection building, the Faculty of Dentistry, and meeting with witnesses and suspects were proposed.

For Endi Pavić Pečenković, a ban on performing the function of Minister in the KS Government and a ban on meeting with witnesses and suspects were proposed.

For Dženita Viteškić, a ban on performing the function of Assistant Minister for Higher Education and a ban on meeting with witnesses and suspects.

For the members of the UNSA Steering Committee, a ban on performing their functions within the Steering Committee, and meeting with witnesses and suspects were proposed. Some of the accused were members of the Steering Committee in the previous convocation, and two of the accused are in the current Steering Committee.

The Envelope case has been active since April 2025, when Mesihović and Viteškić were arrested, followed by Obhođaš, and later Minister Pavić-Pečenković. While Mesihović spent two months in custody and was then released with restrictive measures, there were no bans on performing duties for Viteškić or Obhođaš, who was released without any measures. Minister Pavić-Pečenković also returned to her ministerial duties normally while the investigation in this case was ongoing. A year later, the Prosecutor's Office is requesting bans on performing duties. Viteškić is currently still the Assistant Minister for Higher Education, and Pavić-Pečenković is a minister with a confirmed indictment. A hearing on the restrictive measures is still pending, even though the indictment has been confirmed.

Following the confirmation of the indictment, which is being treated as a high-level corruption case involving illegal actions, illegal employment, abuse of office, all within the public sector of Sarajevo Canton, there has been no reaction from the resigned Prime Minister Nihad Uk. There are no preventive suspensions, no condemnation of corrupt activities, no accountability, only silence. One of the accused is the Secretary of the KS Government, Mersiha Šabaredžović-Klačar, due to decisions made in the UNSA Steering Committee.

The silence of Nihad Uk, as well as all other political parties that form the government in Sarajevo Canton and claim to be fighters against corruption, only shows that such actions are evidently present in the public sector of KS, at the University of Sarajevo, in the inspectorate...

Because if you, as the Prime Minister of KS, do not condemn corruption and illegal actions within your own ranks, how can you expect or demand it from others.

This case and the court proceedings, which will undoubtedly be closely watched, should serve as an alarm to all institutions and leaders involved in illegal activities. It is no secret that several other ministries and public institutions in KS are under the scrutiny of investigative bodies and that the web of the corrupt public sector is unraveling.

It should be recalled that Bojan Bošnjak, the Minister of Communal Affairs, was previously dismissed from the KS Government, and no indictment has yet been filed against him.

What are the accused charged with?

According to the indictment, they are charged with the criminal offenses of abuse of position or authority, receiving a reward or other form of benefit for trading influence, and fraud in service.

Muhamed Ajanović is accused of, together with the accused Dalila Hakalović, acting illegally to change the start date of his second term, thereby enabling him to remain in the position of Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry in Sarajevo, contrary to the provisions of the University of Sarajevo Statute and the Law on Higher Education.

The KS Prosecutor's Office accuses Ajanović, Adna Mesihović, and Dženita Viteškić of acting together to prevent the announcement of a competition for the election of a dean, thereby extending his term beyond the legally and statutorily prescribed provisions.

Ajanović is also accused of illegally enabling an employee to hold two positions at the faculty, thereby providing her with financial gain of KM 6,819.12, as well as the payment of a bonus amounting to 25 percent of her base salary.
He is also accused of illegally paying himself compensation for unused annual leave.

Adna Mesihović and Dženita Viteškić are also accused of illegally hiring three people in the Ministry of Science, Higher Education, and Youth of KS, as well as enabling the illegal appointment of the Dean of the Faculty of Economics in Sarajevo.

Ibrahim Obhođaš is accused of illegal mediation in the election of the Director of the Public Institution Sarajevo Student Center, as well as the appointment of a member of the Interdepartmental Working Group for the drafting of the Law on Student Standards of KS. He is also accused of illegal mediation in extending work permits for foreign workers of a Sarajevo company. Enda Pavić Pečenković is accused of illegally amending the rulebook of the Ministry of Labor, Social Policy, Displaced Persons, and Refugees of KS to enable the employment of the sister of the accused Obhođaš.

The KS Prosecutor's Office also accuses the members of the Steering Committee of illegally enabling Muhamed Ajanović to be paid KM 11,476.32 for unused annual leave. The court has not yet ruled on the prosecution's proposed restrictive measures for the accused.

The indictment was preceded by an extensive and complex investigation by the KS Prosecutor's Office, conducted in cooperation with investigators from the Police Administration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of KS and the Office for Combating Corruption of KS, in accordance with the signed memorandum of cooperation in prosecuting corrupt criminal offenses.