Radončić and Others Trial Continues: Hadžijahić Appointment in Focus of Intercepted Conversations

The trial of Fahrudin Radončić, Bakir Dautbašić, Bilsena Šahman and Zijad Hadžijahić, charged with associating for the purpose of committing criminal acts of obstructing justice and influence peddling, continued before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and intercepted conversations were presented, Patria reports.

Presiding Judge Hasija Mašović noted that the defenses of Dautbašić and Šahman jointly submitted a motion stating that certain media outlets (Slobodna Bosna and Faktor) had grossly violated their privacy by publicly presenting some conversations that caused mental anguish to them and their families, and requested the Court to protect their privacy.

The judge said the Court is making maximum efforts to protect privacy, but that lawyers know what can be done if they believe the media have not acted ethically. The Court has not yet decided whether the disputed conversations, which the defense has marked, will be played in a closed or open session, as they only received the conversations yesterday.

In one of the conversations played today, Radončić tells Dautbašić on January 8, 2016, that he was corresponding with Izetbegović and that "he got Slovenia." In the further conversation, Radončić asks Dautbašić what she (Nerimana Hadžijahić, ed.) does, to which Dautbašić says she is currently acting assistant minister. In this conversation, it could be heard that they need a reference person and that there is something between the SDA and SBB. It was agreed that, if she agrees, Nerimana Hadžijahić would bring her CV to Radončić on Monday.

This conversation revealed that Koldžo (Nedžad, ed.) was supposed to go to the position of ambassador to Slovenia, but agreed to remain as head of municipality.

Dautbašić, on the other hand, explained to Radončić in the conversation that "the woman was a consul general and returned from Milan," and that she could not be "more referential for that position."

In the next conversation, Radončić asks Dautbašić if he "heard about Ljubljana," to which the latter replies that "she is a little scared" and that the SDA appointed her as consul general, and that she told him "people were not fair to her."

Dautbašić then tells how he told her that things are changing, and that he was once in the SDA, to which Radončić replies: Tell her, there are no prejudices here.

At the end of the conversation, Radončić says "there is no need for her to come with Zijo, so we don't tie the man to her, so it doesn't seem like we are asking something from her husband."

Defendant Radončić then requested that the last part of this conversation be replayed, with the explanation that it could be heard: "So she doesn't come with Zijo, because it seems like Zijo might be useful to us for something," and not as stated in the transcript that "Zijo should come," while the presiding judge said it was clearly heard what was recorded.

- Those transcripts were published and caused me great harm, and that is probably why we were remanded in custody - added Radončić.

A conversation with businessman Safet Oručević, who was previously heard as a witness, was also played. In one of the conversations, Radončić asked if he had watched the FTV news, and that the Alliance for a Better Future of BiH would issue a statement regarding the election of the ambassador. Radončić says that Bakir tricked him and appointed the ambassador without an official proposal from the SBB. He says that Bakir deliberately rushed this and that he did not submit a form for her at all, only a CV for consultations. Radončić further recounts how he left her information, and that now it "turned out" that the woman was elected within 24 hours.

In addition to the conversation, the witness also read a message that Bakir Izetbegović sent to Radončić with the content "we have chosen the ambassador to Slovenia," to which Radončić replied: "Thank you."

Then, communication between Radončić and Izetbegović was played, where the defendant says that "this Zijad worked on the analysis of the judiciary." Izetbegović says he fears there will be traps, that they need to keep their nerves, and "whatever you try, they hit you on the fingers." Radončić says that this is "just a way to get to me," and in the continuation of the conversation, he emphasizes that wherever someone is guilty, let them arrest everyone.

The continuation of the trial is scheduled for March 8.