Novalić and Others: Threats and Insults for the 'Raspberry Farmer'

(Patria) - In the continuation of the trial for abuses in the procurement of respirators, the Defense questioned a witness of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina about threats and derogatory words he used for the accused Fikret Hodžić, as well as the rise in respirator prices on the market in March and April 2020.

Witness Kristian Marić, who was granted immunity from prosecution, was presented by Hodžić's Defense with phone messages he exchanged with other persons. According to the presented messages, Marić spoke about the interrogations he was summoned to in connection with the respirator procurement.

In one message, he tells his interlocutor that he will tell the truth, and that “that unfortunate b... from Srebrenica will get f...” The witness confirmed that he was referring to Hodžić.

In another message, Marić states that the investigation is a problem for him because of his partner and “some politicians who bother me for information for the campaign they are working on for the fall because of the elections.” Marić said he does not remember this message.

Defense attorney Mirna Avdibegović questioned the witness about the claims he made at a hearing held on December 22, when he described how he agreed with Borna Cicera from the company “Exotrade” from Rijeka, Dušan Nešić from Serbia, and Sanja Lekić from the company “BTL Medical” from Montenegro on making extra profit by increasing the price of respirators in the contract they concluded with “Srebrena malina” of Fikret Hodžić.

The defense attorney presented a message from April 14, 2020, in which Lekić tells Marić not to talk to a certain Samir about “this thing of ours” and “her problems,” and Marić replies: “Not even to Fikret, because I described you as a successful businesswoman.” The witness said that Hodžić knew about Lekić's problems, whose contract for the procurement of 200 respirators was canceled by Serbia due to a breach of the delivery deadline. He could not say precisely why, then, the message says not to talk to Fikret.

Marić confirmed that it was planned for Hodžić to pay for the respirators through “Exotrade,” based on which the witness expected a commission, but that the accused ultimately paid the Chinese directly. He also confirmed that Lekić, who procured the respirators through “Exotrade,” demanded by message on April 30 that he return the money. Marić said that, as far as he knows, that money was not returned.

Defense attorney Avdibegović asked the witness whether they planned not to deliver the contracted respirators to the Federation if the Republika Srpska (RS) paid a higher price. A conversation between Marić and a certain Vico from the RS was presented, in which he states: “If the RS decides to pay, we don't have them for Fikret, we say 'the Serbs took them.'”

Marić denied the defense attorney's claims, insisting that the conversation referred to 200 respirators, the procurement of which he had verbally agreed on with Hodžić, after the first 100 were delivered.

The witness confirmed that there was a drastic increase in respirator prices on the market. He said that at the end of March he found online that the price of HCV respirators, which were originally agreed upon with Hodžić, was between 35,000 and 50,000 euros, and ACM respirators – which were delivered – from 10,000 to 15,000. He stated that prices changed from week to week and that on April 6 he had an offer for ACM respirators at a price of 45,000 euros per unit.

The defense attorney presented documents found on Marić's computer, one of which contains only the seal and signature of the Prime Minister of the Federation of BiH. Regarding Avdibegović's claim that he forged the document and forwarded it to a WhatsApp group, the witness refused to comment due to possible self-incrimination for acts for which he did not receive immunity.

The defense attorney also asked him about expressing hostility towards Hodžić in messages, to which he said that the accused had lied to him. Messages from a group were presented in which a certain Marko Mađar publishes photos of a pistol and states: “Send me, Kićo, tomorrow in front of the greenhouse in Srebrenica.” Other similar messages were shown, including one in which Marić, using profanity, states what he will do to the “raspberry farmer,” and that he will kill him. The witness said that he did not threaten Hodžić.

For abuse of position in the procurement of respirators, the accused are the federal Prime Minister Fadil Novalić, the suspended director of the Federal Administration of Civil Protection (FUCZ) Fahrudin Solak, the director of the company “F.H. Srebrena malina” Fikret Hodžić, as well as the company itself, and the federal Minister of Finance Jelka Miličević, who is charged with negligent work.

Marić's testimony continues on January 14.