Detention Proposed for Former Director of Tuzla Retirement Home and His Associate

(Patria) - The Cantonal Prosecutor's Office of Tuzla Canton announced that it has submitted a proposal to the preliminary proceedings judge of the Cantonal Court in Tuzla for the detention of Mirsad Bakalović (49), former director of the Tuzla Retirement Home, and Zinaida Razić Halilović (46), head of the service in charge of economic, financial, accounting and general affairs and a member of the Management Board of this institution. Both are suspected of complicity in serious crimes against the general safety of people and property, in connection with causing general danger, while Bakalović is also charged with the extended criminal offense of abuse of position or authority.

According to the Prosecutor's Office, during the period from February 2024 to November 4, 2025, the suspects, as responsible persons in the Public Institution Retirement Home Tuzla, knowingly neglected the obligation to implement prescribed fire protection measures and ensure the safety of users. The facility in question is classified in the first category of fire risk, housing extremely vulnerable categories – a total of 180 elderly users, of whom 110 are seriously ill, immobile or persons with disabilities.

The investigation established that the suspects did not provide a sufficient number of medical, nursing and other staff during night shifts, although they knew that the existing situation did not allow even basic safety and supervision standards, nor the possibility of timely evacuation in emergency situations such as fire.

Bakalović is specifically charged with failing to ensure the implementation of key safety measures, including the establishment of an early fire detection system, adequate smoke extraction and conditions for evacuation. He also did not supervise the ban on the use of electrical appliances, nor did he organize the accommodation of users in accordance with their mobility and health needs.

These omissions, the Prosecutor's Office states, led to a serious threat to the safety of a large number of people. When a fire broke out in a user's room on November 4, 2025, the fire spread quickly, resulting in the death of a large number of residents who could not evacuate independently, while more than 30 people were injured.

In addition to these actions, Bakalović is also suspected of illegally employing and assigning two workers to fire protection and night receptionist duties, without the necessary professional qualifications, which, according to the Prosecutor's Office, further endangered the safety of users and staff.

So far, a large number of witnesses have been heard, and the Prosecutor's Office has received findings from expert witnesses in the fields of construction, architecture and fire protection. Video surveillance recordings have also been analyzed. The investigation continues, as this is a complex and extensive case that also involves determining the possible responsibility of other persons connected to the tragic event.

The Prosecutor's Office of Tuzla Canton reminds the public of the application of the principle of presumption of innocence, according to which everyone is considered innocent until their guilt is established by a final court decision.