Award-winning journalist Patrucić: A large number of cases fall before BH judiciary due to banal reasons

The strength of institutions, i.e. the rule of law in BiH, is rated very poorly according to WEF indicators for 2016, the same as in 2015, states the latest report 'State of the Nation', recently published by the Centers of Civic Initiatives, writes Patria.

- Ratings by these criteria unequivocally point to a serious challenge BiH faces in building the rule of law, fighting political corruption and patronage, building an autonomous and professional public administration, and strengthening an independent and efficient judiciary. The fight against corruption is not yielding expected results – consider from CCI.

According to the 'State of the Nation' report, approximately two percent of all indictments and verdicts in BiH over the past three years relate to corruption and economic crime. In 2014 and 2015, out of a total of 33,460 indictments filed, 529 or 1.6 percent relate to economic crime, and 700 or 2.1 percent relate to corruption. In the first half of 2016, approximately 2 percent or 120 verdicts relate to criminal offenses of corruption, and 4 percent or 307 verdicts relate to criminal offenses of economic crime. Collectively, approximately six percent of all verdicts relate to corruption and economic crime.

- During 2016, there is a significant increase in indictments filed for economic crime compared to the previous two years – states the 'State of the Nation' report. 

Several other reports indicate that the number of indictments for corruption and economic crime would be even higher, but that the judiciary in BiH is still not efficient enough. It is under strong political pressure. Ruling parties do not want strong and independent institutions in BiH, especially not strong judicial institutions. Indictments that are filed often collapse due to political decisions. 

Miranda Patrucić, an award-winning and world-renowned journalist from Sarajevo, says in a comment for Patria that her observations are that a large number of cases before the BH judiciary "fall due to banal reasons, such as disappearance of evidence, failure to obtain evidence according to procedure, mistakes by prosecutors, and partly due to bribery." 

- Cases sit in drawers until politicians give the green light for them to be prosecuted. As long as politics interferes with the judiciary, we will not have major progress in prosecuting corruption – says Patrucić.

Dragan Čović, member of the BiH Presidency and president of the ruling party in FBiH, HDZ BiH, was acquitted of a five-year prison sentence for multi-million criminal activity, and the reason for the acquittal is cited as the disappearance of several original documents from the indictment on the way from the state to the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office in Sarajevo, writes Patria.