Novalić presented his closing statement: There was a document discrediting me, involving people from the judiciary and NIP

(Patria) - The continuation of closing statements in the "Respirators" case was held at the Court of BiH, and the first defendant, Fadil Novalić, stated that there was a plan to discredit him.

He accused the People and Justice party of creating a document, a plan, as he stated, for his media discreditation. Novalić pointed out that the document indicated "do not send by email," and that people from the judiciary, as well as a minister from the FBiH Government he leads, were involved in the whole affair. He called the informal group "Gacko is a miracle.".

Federal Prime Minister Fadil Novalić stated that he does not see the proceedings in which he is being tried for abuse of power during the import of respirators as a court case, but as a project of a political nature.

At the beginning of his closing statement, Novalić referred to the novel The Trial and its protagonist who wakes up one day not knowing who is accusing him or why, but who cannot escape and has already been convicted, with the crowd ready for a lynching.

He said that an internal document of the "People and Justice" party provided instructions for a campaign to use everything during the corona pandemic to direct blame towards him and the Government for job losses, a high number of deaths, and similar issues.

"The goal of the project was the disqualification of Novalić," said the accused.

According to him, an illusion was created that the Prosecutor's Office was doing significant work, while prosecutors neglected the context and timing, spent budget money on "such proceedings," and made "grotesque" statements to the media.

"I have no answer as to why we are the only country that initiated proceedings for procurement during the corona pandemic. We did what other leaders did," said Novalić, adding that he does not know why similar proceedings were not initiated in Republika Srpska, nor where the illegal property gain he acquired is.

His defense attorney, Nina Karačić-Brković, stated in her closing statement that the most shocking accusation in the indictment is money laundering, and that, as she stated, she does not want to think that the prosecutors claim that the money from the budget was acquired through criminal activity.

She stated that it is unclear why the Prosecutor's Office claims that Novalić misused his authority when signing letters of intent for the procurement of respirators. She said that Novalić signed about 50 such letters because China required it for the export of equipment.

The defense attorney said that the Government was responsible for providing funds for the procurement of respirators, and that Novalić was not obliged to know what type of respirators they were. She stated that "Srebrena malina" sent offers for the procurement of equipment to other institutions and organizations, not just the Government of the Federation.

Novalić is accused along with the suspended director of the Federal Civil Protection Administration (FUCZ) Fahrudin Solak, the owner of "Srebrena malina" Fikret Hodžić, as well as the company itself, and the Federal Minister of Finance Jelka Milićević.

Solak's defense, in its closing statement, assessed that this case, from a legal perspective, is simple, but unprecedented in terms of media and political hype.

According to defense attorney Marsela Bajramović, the undisputed facts are that respirators were needed, that the FUCZ received a request to carry out the procurement, that "Srebrena malina's" offer was the most favorable in terms of price, quantity, and delivery time, and that the procurement was realized. She emphasized that Solak did not take any action contrary to regulations.

"Failure to act on the decisions of the Government and the Headquarters for Combating the Pandemic is a criminal offense," stated Bajramović.

She stated that the Prosecutor's Office did not provide evidence that anyone submitted a more favorable offer than "Srebrena malina," and that the Defense submitted other offers, some of which had a delivery time of up to six months.

"Where does it say that the FUCZ could not carry out this procurement?" asked the defense attorney.

She cited regulations on action in a state of emergency and the activation of the Civil Protection Headquarters and the role of the FUCZ. According to her, everyone in the Headquarters received a draft decision on the allocation of funds, and everyone knew that respirators were intended to be purchased. She assessed the statements of Tončo Bavrka and Davor Pehar, members of the Headquarters, that they did not know what they were voting for, as absurd, and that they should be held accountable for negligent work in office if that is true.

Bajramović said that the situation necessitated urgency and exemption from the application of the Law on Public Procurement, primarily due to the needs of hospitals and the instability of offers, which changed from day to day, hour to hour. She added that prices fluctuated on the global market in the midst of the struggle for respirators.

Closing statements will continue on March 15, writes Detektor.