What about the seven proceedings the KS Prosecutor's Office is conducting against Mandić?

(Patria) - The mandate of the current mayor of the Sarajevo municipality Centar, Srđan Mandić (Naša stranka), was marked by constant quarrels, which prevented normal functioning and led to the stagnation of this local community. The Municipality of Centar, unable to adopt the budget in time, could not achieve the development that citizens expected.

What has also been a constant topic of discussion in the Centar Municipal Council are the non-transparent deals and suspicious financial transactions of the current authorities. The municipal government has concluded a series of contracts, for which several criminal charges have been filed against the current mayor, writes Slobodna Bosna.

The enormous increase in costs during the realization of the so-called Sarajevo Carpet attracted the most attention. This project, which met with divided public opinion, as the appearance of the Carpet disappointed many, ultimately cost significantly more than planned.

No one knows for sure how much, because Mandić is hiding the documentation for this project. In a statement from Narod i Pravda, in July last year, it was stated that they have information that the project cost 1.7 million, which is 400,000 KM more than planned in the 2022 budget. At the sessions of the Municipal Council, data was presented that much more money than 400,000 was spent in the end, but no one knows the exact amount or how the money was distributed.



Councilors from Narod i Pravda, who were part of a joint anti-corruption coalition with Mandić in the last local elections, led the requests to publish all documentation about the Carpet, due to suspicions of criminal acts and the misappropriation of public funds.

NiP councilors, and especially Jasmin Ademović, constantly reminded the mayor of Centar that, according to the Sarajevo Agreement, which the Trojka parties signed in 2020, he has an obligation to publish all documents related to the expenditure of public money. But to this day, the public has not been shown the documents on the costs of the Sarajevo Carpet, and the question remains open as to what Mandić fears and whose financial interests he is protecting by hiding this documentation.

The second major affair concerns the renovation of the Festina Lente bridge. The renovation of this bridge was carried out by the company Dinalsa, which became known to the public for the most expensive kiosk in the country for 250,000 KM, in Baščaršija.

The Kiosk affair was an important element of the Trojka's narrative before coming to power, and it is very indicative that Mandić himself, after coming to power, continued cooperation with this company, which received 400,000 KM from the Municipality of Centar during his mandate for the renovation of the Festina Lente bridge, although it was initially planned that about 200 thousand KM less would be spent. It remained unclear to the public why such an enormous increase occurred.

The third affair that shook Centar was about the most expensive website in the country. The Municipality allocated an incredible 70,200 KM for the creation of the website, and the money went to the company Promotim d.o.o., whose employee is one of Mandić's first associates and the head of the Naša stranka councilor club, Alen Girt.

Narod i Pravda councilors, regarding this and other cases, filed criminal charges with the KS Prosecutor's Office.

In a response from the KS Prosecutor's Office, published in November last year, it was stated that the Prosecutor's Office is conducting seven proceedings against Mayor Mandić for the reported offenses of Abuse of Office or Authority, under Article 383/1 of the Criminal Code of FBiH, and Failure to Execute a Court Decision under Article 351/1.

However, to this day, the public has not been informed about the progress of these proceedings, the conclusion of which is of the greatest public interest, given that the local elections are approaching, in which citizens will vote on the new structure of power in Centar.