Verdict for former minister Zora Dujmović on June 30

(Patria) - The Municipal Court in Sarajevo has scheduled the pronouncement of the verdict for former federal Minister of Culture and Sports Zora Dujmović (HDZ BiH) for June 30. She is accused of abusing her position while hiring advisors in 2015 and 2016.

Closing arguments were presented at the hearing, during which the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office in Sarajevo requested a guilty verdict, while the Defense requested acquittal or dismissal of the indictment.

Prosecutor Aida Bešlija stated that it has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Dujmović knowingly hired four advisors who did not meet the requirements. She recalled the testimony of a witness who stated that she handed over all regulations to the accused, including the by-law that stipulated, among other things, the conditions for hiring advisors.

"There is no doubt that the accused was informed of the by-law immediately upon arrival," said Bešlija.

She pointed to testimonies that Dujmović called by phone to prepare decisions for certain advisors. She added that witnesses stated that a similar practice existed in the past when hiring advisors, and that some ministers had advisors with only secondary education.

The prosecutor stated that it has been proven that the advisors only submitted their documentation after being hired, even though they did not meet the necessary requirements regarding professional qualifications or years of work experience.

"It is clear that the minister was not interested in whether the conditions were met... It has been indisputably proven that she acted with intent, using her discretionary right to appoint advisors," said Bešlija.

She addressed the Defense's objection regarding discrimination, citing other cases that have been prosecuted. Regarding the claim that the accused's right to defense was violated because one of the pieces of evidence was not presented to her during the investigation, Bešlija stated that the document was obtained later, and that Dujmović was informed of the charges and grounds for suspicion during the investigation in accordance with regulations.

The Defense argued that through this document, which was not presented to the accused during the investigation, the Prosecutor's Office is trying to cover up a lack of evidence regarding intent. Defense attorney Faruk Hadžić stated that it has not been proven that this document was ever submitted to the accused.

He noted that it is not disputed that some advisors did not meet the requirements, and that there are ambiguities regarding what constitutes a social versus a natural field of study, as well as what constitutes higher versus university education.

"The core issue is whether there was intent. Did Dujmović know that they did not meet the requirements?" Hadžić emphasized.

He added that the legal obligation to verify the requirements lay with the employees in the human resources and legal departments, but that they never warned the minister about irregularities.

Defense attorney Davor Martinović stated that intent would have been proven if the legal department had warned the minister, and that witnesses at the trial stated that such a practice existed before.

"They had to check and inform the minister... They prepared decisions stating that the advisors met the requirements," Martinović stressed, noting that the witnesses exercised their right not to answer questions that could expose them to criminal prosecution.

Despite testimonies that advisors were hired in a similar manner by previous ministers, as the defense attorney stated, no one except Dujmović has been indicted.

He said that as soon as Dujmović learned that the requirements were not met, she contacted an associate and dismissed one advisor, thereby demonstrating how she would have acted if she had known they did not meet the requirements.

Martinović expressed confidence that the only dilemma for the Court will be whether to acquit Dujmović or dismiss the indictment, writes Detektor.