Minister Cikotić pleaded not guilty

(Patria) - Selmo Cikotić, the current Minister of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, denied guilt before the State Court for abuse of office, specifically the allegations in the indictment charging him that in the period from 2009 to 2011, when he held the position of State Minister of Defense, he damaged the BiH budget by approximately 9.7 million KM.

At today's hearing before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Selmo Cikotić pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him by the BiH Prosecutor's Office.

As previously announced by the BiH Prosecutor's Office, Cikotić is accused of abusing his official position as State Minister of Defense between 2009 and 2011 by illegally favoring a buyer, to the detriment of the ministry he led, during the plan for the export and sale of surplus obsolete weapons, ammunition, and military equipment.

"The indictment states that the accused, completely illegally and bypassing the prescribed legal procedures, without informing his deputies, as well as the BiH Presidency, made changes to the contract, after which the company 'Scout' d.o.o. Zagreb, instead of obsolete weapons and ammunition, which were intended for write-off and sale to reduce storage and maintenance costs, exported higher quality weapons and ammunition in demand on the market through contract amendments, thus damaging the BiH budget by approximately 9.7 million KM, and also illegally obtained property benefit for others in the amount of several million," stated a previous announcement from the BiH Prosecutor's Office.

According to the indictment, Cikotić, as an official in the executive authorities in BiH, caused damage to the BiH budget and obtained significant property benefit for others through his actions, thereby committing the prolonged criminal offense of abuse of office or authority.

As stated, the BiH Prosecutor's Office will prove the guilt of the accused by hearing a large number of witnesses and expert witnesses and by submitting several hundred pieces of material evidence.

Cikotić's trial is expected to begin in the coming period.