Witness in Zukić and Others Trial: Serious People Offer Job for 16,000 Marks

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - At the trial for abuses in hiring in public companies, a witness of the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office in Sarajevo stated that he was offered employment in “Elektroprivreda” for the amount of 16,000 marks, Birn reports.

The witness of the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office, Brajko Hasančić, said that he was looking for a job when he met an electrician named Ismet in the summer of 2016. As Hasančić recounted, Ismet told him that he knew “serious people” who could secure employment in “Elektroprivreda” for money.

- He told me that I need to give 16,000 marks and I can get a job. Later they told me it was changed to 17,000 marks. I didn't have the money, but I decided to find it, only if it was a serious offer. He said it was about his wife's uncle, that his name is Ramiz and that he can finish it - said Hasančić.

Ismet also asked him for certain documents, which Hasančić collected and handed over, and then waited for further instructions. He spoke with Ramiz once, but the conversation was not completed.

- On Friday, I saw on TV that the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) arrested some people for hiring in ‘Elektroprivreda’, ‘Telecom’… I thought it could be these people. Later, Ismet also informed me that trouble had happened, that people were arrested - said Hasančić.

He stated that he does not have immunity from prosecution, and attorney Senka Nožica, who defends Amir Zukić, said that “if this witness did not commit a criminal offense, then neither did my client.”

The indictment charges the Secretary General of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) Amir Zukić, as well as Safet Bibić, Nedžad and Senad Trako, Ramiz Karavdić, Esed Džananović and Asim Sarajlić with illegal mediation in hiring in public companies.

Witness Ismet Keserović recounted how his father Sead tried to help him get a job in “Elektroprivreda” in the spring of 2016. According to his account, he was staying with his uncle in Luxembourg when his father called and told him to come because he had to prepare documents for a job.

Although he had not worked before, he obtained a certificate of work experience in Tuzla and underwent a medical examination after a phone call from “Elektroprivreda Zenica”, in which this was suggested to him. As he said, he had no knowledge of how his father intended to employ him.

- I learned from the media, when I heard that our names and the names of those people were mentioned - said Keserović.

The trial continues on July 16.