What Mahmutović was saving was disappearing: The Prosecutor's Office must say what happened in the Basketball Federation

Details of the investigation into events at the BiH Basketball Federation have been awaited for over a year. SIPA investigated, seized documentation, the BiH Prosecutor's Office conducted an investigation and after all that, there is no feedback from the judicial institutions.

For a year or more, fingers have been pointed at certain individuals, although they themselves have not made an effort to influence the BiH Prosecutor's Office to make a final prosecutorial decision, and now they are returning to sports, even though they have not yet cleared their name of dishonorable actions. Harun Mahmutović, former Secretary General of the BiH Basketball Federation, is the new president of KK Bosna. He says he is coming to Bosna to try and save it!?

The first thing that needs to be determined is the actual amount of debt, Mahmutović told the media, noting that it is necessary to see how and in what way, and with whom to proceed with debt restructuring.

- I regret that Bosna has come to this situation and I would like our visions to align and for us to try to save Bosna from complete ruin and closure – said Mahmutović.

And so, Mahmutović will now set out to save Bosna, but he will certainly have to talk with the current Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton, Elmedin Konaković, who was one of those who managed Bosna during its success, but also its sudden downfall.

Otherwise, it was suspected and publicly written about Mahmutović that he was paid around 185,000 KM based on non-existent work contracts in the Basketball Federation. Allegedly, 77,000 KM was spent through cards without coverage in the accounts, and when taxes and interest are added, the Federation was damaged by approximately 500,000 KM. 

This amount could be higher depending on the outcome of a potential court process.

Based on its data, the KSBiH sued Harun Mahmutović and is seeking the return of illegally paid funds.

Mahmutović claims that the Basketball Federation owes him between 500,000 and 700,000 KM, and many have wondered on what grounds Mahmutović is entitled to this money.

However, to be clear, Mahmutović did not give any money to the BiH Basketball Federation, but he arrived at that figure by calculating commissions from sponsorship agreements, at 20% each. Mahmutović also included the contract with BH Telecom, although he was not responsible for this cooperation, as public companies are obliged to direct a certain portion of funds to national teams.

SIPA visited the Basketball Federation several times, documentation was seized, and interviews were conducted with the actors of shady dealings in the Federation.

Mahmutović, along with the current Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton Elmedin Konaković (former manager at KK Bosna), who served as president of the KS until February 2016, apparently made a series of irregular moves, and we hope the Prosecutor's Office will have the final say on the severity and qualification of these actions.

There are no recorded debts to Harun Mahmutović in the KSBiH on any basis. Mahmutović and Konaković, upon arriving at the Federation, spoke about wanting to revive this sport, similar to what Mahmutović is now saying about Bosna, but unfortunately, the past shows that they leave behind empty accounts and destroyed clubs.

Although the Basketball Federation in BiH has been in a difficult financial situation for years, due to which the closure of certain national team selections is threatened, Harun Mahmutović was paid more than 100,000 KM in 2015 alone based on fees and percentages from sponsorship agreements, which is more than even a member of the BiH Presidency earns annually!

(A.Č.Z.)