"Neretva" premises in central Sarajevo sold to lawyer Spiljak for only 270,000 KM

The Municipal Court in Sarajevo sold, on Thursday, the main building of the state-owned company Neretva to Sarajevo lawyer Šaban Spiljak for only 270,000 KM, in order to settle part of the debt to 12 workers (!) of the oldest BH company for the production of orthopedic aids, reports the BH news agency Patria (NAP).

Judge of the Municipal Court in Sarajevo, Vojko Radović, decided on Thursday that for approximately 800 square meters of Neretva's premises, located in Kemal-begova Street in central Sarajevo, just 150 meters from the building of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, lawyer Spiljak is the best bidder and can take over the space at a price of 270,000 KM.

Senad Osmanagić, director of Neretva, is outraged by the court decision, because the building, he says, which is worth more than one million KM, was sold for five times less.

- The court sold the main building of our company to settle part of the salaries that the company owes to 12 workers. This is scandalous - said Osmanagić for the BH news agency Patria.

- That money will only cover part of the debt to workers, and only to one group of workers, not to all workers. That money will not be able to cover all the company's debts - says Osmanagić. He announced that he will file an appeal with the Court and seek a reopening of the sale procedure.

The buyer, lawyer Spiljak, sees nothing controversial in the transaction he made with the state today. He bought the property on behalf of the company "Agromilk" Sarajevo, owned by his son. He offered, he says, the best price and became the owner of an attractive location. Instead of the company that produced orthopedic aids there, he will open a discount store for dairy products.

- The court expert assessed the initial value of the property, we appeared as the best buyers, and I do not think there can be anything controversial here - says lawyer Spiljak for Patria.

Employees of the state-owned company Neretva, which has a 66-year tradition, sued the company due to unpaid salaries and other obligations. The Municipal Court in Sarajevo ruled in their favor, and to settle the claims, the Court sold Neretva's main business premises on Thursday.

Neretva director Osmanagić said that Neretva will continue to operate, at new locations, but will use all legal options to correct the injustice against Neretva, writes NAP.