Municipal Court in Banovići Confirms Indictment Against Former Mayor Bego Gutić

(Patria) - The Municipal Court in Banovići has confirmed the indictment of the Prosecutor's Office of Tuzla Canton against Bego Gutić, former mayor of the Municipality of Banovići and president of the Municipal Organization of SDA. Gutić is accused on three counts, for the period from May 2020 to July 2023, for abuse of political position and influence.

According to the indictment, the first count relates to influencing the then newly elected director of the Banovići Brown Coal Mine to have two employees, members of an opposition party and trade union, dismissed or transferred to lower-paying positions. Additionally, the accused intervened to have another worker transferred due to the political views of his wife.

The second count accuses Gutić of offering an opposition councilor illegal benefits in February 2022 – employment for his family members in public institutions – in an attempt to win him over to SDA and secure a political majority in the municipal council. The councilor refused the offer.

The third count of the indictment states that in July 2023, Gutić organized a gathering of citizens in front of the Banovići Municipality building to prevent councilors from entering the premises of the Municipal Council. The citizens, led by the accused, physically and verbally attacked the councilors, preventing them from lawfully performing their official duties.

If convicted, Gutić could face consequences for several serious criminal offenses, including abuse of position, trading in influence, and obstruction of official acts.