Novalic and others: Mixed papers caused the error

(Patria) - In the continuation of her testimony, Sunita Alagić, Assistant Director of the Federal Civil Protection Administration (FUCZ), stated that the contract was concluded based on the offer of the company "Srebrena Malina" which was forwarded from the Government of the Federation and which bore the designation of HC VE300 ventilators. She stated that there were two other offers for ventilators from this company, and one of them bore the designation ACM 812A ventilators.

The witness stated that she took the offers to a meeting with director Fahrudin Solak and director of "Srebrena malina" Fahrudin Hodžić, and that she then drafted the contract.

She reiterated that Solak informed her after two to three days that the ventilator designation on the contract needed to be corrected, and that ACM 812A should be stated instead of HC VE300, writes BIRN.

Alagić stated that the designation of HC VE300 ventilators was mistakenly entered, but that the specification referred to ACM ventilators. She stated that even after the correction, she sometimes entered the wrong designation in certain documents.

"Even after the correction, there were permutations, because the envelope from HC VE remained," said Alagić.

Solak's Defense presented the witness with documents from April 30 and 15, as well as from April 6, which mention the procurement of ACM ventilators. Alagić agreed that this means the correction was made before the mentioned dates.

Defense attorney Marsela Bajramović also presented three offers that the witness stated they had, including the one delivered directly to the Federal Civil Protection Administration, which offered 100 ACM ventilators at a price of ten and a half million KM, which is the same amount for which another type of ventilator was offered.

Prosecutor Mirza Hukeljić insisted that the Defense state where that document was found. Bajramović stated that the offer is among the Prosecutor's evidence, to which Hukeljić replied that the document was not found at the Administration but with the accused.

"I claim that this offer did not exist at the time they made the decision," said the prosecutor.

For abuse of position during the procurement of ventilators, the accused are Federal Prime Minister Fadil Novalić, suspended director of the Federal Civil Protection Administration Fahrudin Solak, director of the company "F.H. Srebrena malina" Fikret Hodžić, as well as the company itself, and Federal Minister of Finance Jelka Miličević, who is charged with negligent work.

To the prosecutor's questions, Alagić explained how she and her colleagues reviewed the offers and that they looked at the minimum technical characteristics issued by the World Health Organization for the ventilators. She said that she often contacted the Ministry of Health, but that she does not know if she consulted anyone regarding the ventilators.

The witness stated that the delivery deadline, as well as the availability of equipment, were the key criteria by which they reviewed the offers.

To the questions from Solak's Defense, Alagić confirmed that they received numerous offers for medical equipment, that prices changed hourly, and that it happened that when they inquired about certain goods, they were told they were no longer available.

The witness agreed with defense attorney Bajramović that "Srebrena malina's" offer was the most favorable and that the deadlines from others were longer than from this company.

She added that, in accordance with the stated needs, they would have purchased another 200 ventilators if it hadn't been for the "artificial affair".

Alagić's examination will continue on November 17, which will be her fourth appearance in court. Presiding Judge Džemila Begović pointed out that the examinations will have to be limited and focused on the essential elements of the charges in the indictment, without repetition and irrelevant details.