MANIPULATIONS DID NOT PAY OFF Justice for Olovčić: Lasić and his team face a verdict along with an international investigation

(Patria) - Jasmina Olovčić, an employee of JP Autoceste FBiH, faced major problems after the arrival of the new director Denis Lasić (HDZ BiH), but she sought justice – and received it – in court, now also on appeal. She must be reinstated to her job.

We remind you that the Municipal Court in Mostar previously issued an initial verdict annulling the termination of the employment contract handed over on July 21, 2023. Autoceste FBiH was then obliged to reinstate Olovčić to her job and re-establish the employment relationship based on the contract signed on May 24, 2023.

Recently, the Cantonal Court in Mostar also issued a second-instance verdict, confirming the annulment of the termination, making the Municipal Court's decision final. JP Autoceste FBiH is now obliged to re-establish Jasmina Olovčić's employment status based on the valid contract.

We remind you that after the political dismissal of the Management of Autoceste and the appointment of the new director Lasić in May 2023, Olovčić, as testified by Autoceste employees earlier, was subjected to mobbing. Pressure was exerted in writing and verbally to obtain confidential data from the proceedings she conducted. When she did not comply with these demands, disciplinary proceedings were initiated against her, and the duties she performed as head of the Procurement Department under international procedures were transferred to Katica Vranjković. Her official email was also revoked, and her access to the office and documentation was restricted.

The termination decision, made under the justification of a serious breach of labor discipline – “providing inaccurate information that could affect poor business decisions of the Management of JP Autoceste FBiH” – has now been clearly established as unfounded.

Meanwhile, the Office of the European Public Prosecutor from Venice sent a notification to the heads of the Public Enterprise Autoceste of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina stating that they are under investigation for suspected corruption and non-transparent spending of funds from European funds during the construction of the Medakovo-Poprikuše and Ozimice Poprikuše highway sections.

Under investigation are the general director of JP Autoceste Denis Lasić, executive director of Autoceste Asmir Dževlan, consultant at Autoceste Erdal Trhulj, and public procurement officer Katica Vranjković. In a statement, JP Autoceste attempted to justify their actions by claiming that former directors of JP Autoceste, Elmedin Voloder, and former head of the Procurement Department, Jasmina Olovčić, were behind the illegal actions. In that statement, they grossly misled the public by stating that Jasmina Olovčić was dismissed from JP Autoceste of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina due to established irregularities and disciplinary violations.

However, they did not mention the verdict, and now, along with international investigations, Lasić and his team are also facing a verdict they must implement.