Indictment in the "Meso" Case: Lijanovići Damaged BiH State by 13.5 Million KM

A prosecutor from the Economic Crime Department has filed an indictment against a total of 16 individuals (11 natural persons and 5 legal entities/companies), including the owners of the Lijanovići company. This is one of the most extensive indictments for tax evasion in post-Dayton BiH. The confiscation of illicit property gains will be sought, the BiH Prosecutor's Office announced, reports the Patria News Agency.

The prosecutor and head of the Economic Crime Department has filed an indictment that includes the following defendants:

Ivanković- Lijanović Jerko, born 15.11.1969 in Široki Brijeg

Ivanković-Lijanović Slavo, born 30.11.1957 in Široki Brijeg

Ivanković-Lijanović Jozo, born 29.11.1962 in Široki Brijeg

Bahilj Milorad aka "Baja", born 23.02.1953 in Mostar

Slišković Jozo aka "Šušić", born 11.12.1956 in Široki Brijeg

Mikulić Željko, born 18.01.1959 in Široki Brijeg

Kvesić Draženko aka "Dražen", born 04.05.1968 in Široki Brijeg

Šakota Mirjana, born 13.10.1958 in Mostar

Galić Mirko, born 28.07.1954 in Grude

Čolak Miroslav aka "Miro", born 16.02.1941 in Grude

Ivanković Stipe aka "Lijan", born 01.08.1933 in Grude

"Lijanovići" d.o.o. Široki Brijeg

"Mi-Mo" d.o.o. Mostar

"Farmer" d.o.o. Široki Brijeg

"Farmko" d.o.o Široki Brijeg

"Optimum" d.o.o. Široki Brijeg

The defendants are accused of, during the period from 2007 to 2012, acting as a connected group of natural and legal persons (companies), committing tax evasion and non-payment of taxes by continuously establishing new companies with minimal share capital, often only 2000 KM, transferring raw materials, products, and equipment to these companies and continuing operations, while leaving the accumulated multi-million tax debts with the former companies.

In this manner, which for several years represented a modus operandi for illegal business operations aimed at tax evasion, the defendants committed tax evasion, non-payment of taxes, and money laundering, thereby acquiring illicit property gains amounting to approximately 13.5 million KM, for which they damaged the state of BiH, i.e., all citizens.

Given that the case will seek the confiscation of illicit property gains in the full amount and their return to the state of BiH, the prosecuting prosecutor will, after the financial investigation is completed, request that the defendants be prevented from disposing of their movable and immovable property, in order to ensure the possibility of recovery for the state at the end of the court proceedings.

This case is one of the most extensive in the history of the Economic Crime Department, on which prosecutor Ismet Šuškić, who is the head of this department, has been working for an extended period with his associates, investigators, and police experts for financial crime from SIPA.

The BiH Prosecutor's Office will prove the guilt and responsibility of the defendants by calling approximately 40 witnesses and expert witnesses, and extensive evidentiary material with over 1000 physical pieces of evidence has been attached to the indictment. The indictment will be forwarded to the Court of BiH, according to the statement.