Criminal complaint filed against University Hospital Mostar for endangering human health and pollution

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Citizens' associations "Eko akcija" Sarajevo and "Jer nas se tiče" Mostar have filed a criminal complaint against the University Hospital Mostar and responsible persons, as well as against unknown persons who transported and disposed of waste and covered it with soil on public property, announced the association "Eko akcija".

The University Hospital Mostar, as they state, was sued because, "contrary to the regulations on the disposal of medical, infectious, and other types of waste under a special management regime (Law on Waste Management of FBiH, Rulebook on Medical Waste Management (Official Gazette of FBiH no. 77/08, and Criminal Code of FBiH)) on June 25 this year, as well as on the preceding days, in the open space of the parking lot next to the hospital building, unprotected from animals and people, and from the effects of high temperatures, illegally disposed of, stored, and collected medical and infectious waste together with municipal waste, thereby endangering the health of people and animals, and endangering air quality, but also leading to the potential spread of infectious diseases by exposing waste to birds, and all other animals".

"In the video recording available on the internet, it is visible that at high temperatures, in a completely open metal container, bloody gauze, remnants of infusions and medicines, bags with urine, and hospital clothing are piled up, which should be disposed of under a special regime and should not be accessible to everyone in the open, along with ordinary waste. On June 26, in an unknown manner with unknown persons, they removed the infectious medical waste and disposed of it on public property, near the Neretva River, i.e., a plot of public ownership, at the address: Mostar, A. Buća 19, in the possession of G.P. Hercegovina, and then, through unknown perpetrators and by an unknown principal, they buried the waste, i.e., attempted to conceal the commission of the criminal offense," the complaint states.

It is added that the University Hospital Mostar "clearly endangered the environment, the health of animals and people, and also led to the pollution of air, soil, and water".

"They committed criminal offenses: From Article 387 of the Criminal Code of FBiH: Negligent work in office, because by obvious violation of regulations and failure to supervise, they acted negligently in office and led to the violation of the rights of others. We remind that the right to a healthy environment, according to the practice of the Court in Strasbourg, and our Constitution, is considered the Right to life. From Article 303 of the Criminal Code of FBiH: Environmental pollution, because by violating regulations they polluted the air, soil, and land to an extent that could lead to the deterioration of the health of people and animals. From Article 305 of the Criminal Code of FBiH: Endangering the environment with waste – because contrary to regulations, they discarded, collected, and stored, and transported waste to an area of public ownership and endangered the environment with medical waste, thereby endangering air, soil, and groundwater, as well as the health of people and animals. From Article 52 of the Law on Waste Management of FBiH, they stored, transported, and disposed of waste without a permit, thereby causing danger to human life and health, or pollution of air, water, or soil, or risk to flora and fauna," it is added.

These two associations demand an urgent investigation and prosecution of those responsible, "given the urgency of action and the possibility of destroying evidence, considering that the human environment, as well as the human and animal health of all those who use the water of the Neretva River, are endangered".

Specifically, as the associations state, they expect results regarding whose order resulted in the transfer of medical waste, its disposal on the ground, and then its burial.