Indictment against Goražde Mayor Ernest Imamović for high corruption confirmed

(Patria) - The Prosecutor's Office of Bosansko-podrinjski Canton (BPK) Goražde announced today that the indictment in the high corruption case against Goražde Mayor Ernest Imamović has been confirmed for the criminal offense of "Abuse of Office or Authority" under Article 383, Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Cantonal Prosecutor's Office filed the indictment due to the existence of grounds for suspicion that Ernest Imamović, in June 2023 in Goražde, while performing the function of mayor, by exploiting his official position and avoiding the application of the principle of competition in the public procurement procedure, acted contrary to the interests of the service.

According to the indictment, his goal was to obtain a benefit for another party in the form of being awarded a contract, which he intended, and he used his official position without applying Article 6 of the Public Procurement Law ("Official Gazette of BiH", No. 39/14 and 50/22).

This article stipulates that the contracting authority is obliged to award contracts for the procurement of goods, services, and works by applying the procedures defined by the Public Procurement Law and its bylaws.

Imamović, the indictment further states, on 28.06.2023 in Goražde, despite being aware that he was not conducting a public procurement procedure for the construction works on the renovation/reconstruction of the plateau of the "Mirsad Hurić" City Hall, as stipulated by the provisions of the Public Procurement Law, made a Decision on the selection of the most favorable bidder.

By this decision, he accepted the final offer of a bidder from Goražde, received in a negotiated procedure without a prior contract notice.

Subsequently, the indictment adds, based on the aforementioned decision, on 30.06.2023, he concluded a Contract for the assignment of works on the renovation/reconstruction of the "Mirsad Hurić" City Hall plateau with the bidder company from Goražde, with a value of 210,600.57 KM.

In doing so, the BPK Prosecutor's Office points out, he was aware that this was contrary to Articles 21 and 24 of the Public Procurement Law of BiH, and thus obtained a benefit for the legal entity in the form of being awarded the contract - engagement for the execution of construction works.

The aforementioned indictment was fully confirmed by the Municipal Court in Goražde.