Lipovača bothers while free, new indictment being prepared

At a hearing today at the Cantonal Court in Bihać, at the request of the Una-Sana Canton Prosecutor's Office (USK), the pre-trial detention of former Canton Prime Minister Hamdija Lipovača was extended by two months, while the second suspect in this case, the owner of the company "Agra" Alen Gluhalić, will defend himself while free, writes the Patria News Agency.

This case is one in a series of absurd decisions by BiH judicial institutions, because Lipovača has already been free for two months, and new detention has been ordered because there is a well-founded suspicion that his release could cause negative consequences in terms of public unrest.

Ilijas Midžić, Alen Gluhalić's lawyer, sees inconsistencies in this and believes that Lipovača's lawyer, Salih Hodžić, will file an appeal.

- It is possible that the prosecutor will also file an appeal because my client has not been ordered into detention. They have been free for two months, and Lipovača has been ordered into detention under Article 146 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Federation of BiH, which states that he "could obstruct the criminal proceedings by influencing witnesses and accomplices or concealers" - says Midžić.

Otherwise, as Patria learns, the USK Prosecutor's Office is expanding the investigation regarding Lipovača, so they obviously need time to expand the indictment, because, as our source claims, a lot is now being "cooked up" against the former USK Prime Minister.

- Two and two are four. There are many things being attributed to the former prime minister, so the Prosecutor's Office needs time to expand the investigation, and I believe that detention has been ordered precisely for this reason - says our source.

Otherwise, Lipovača is suspected of the criminal offense of abuse of position or authority in the case of the reconstruction of the STENS Sports and Recreation Center in Bihać, during his tenure as mayor, and Gluhalić for deception while obtaining a loan and forging an official document.