TI BiH addresses the Office of the Disciplinary Prosecutor: Investigate the conduct of Chief Prosecutor Goran Salihović

Transparency International in Bosnia and Herzegovina (TI BiH) has sent a request to the Office of the Disciplinary Prosecutor to investigate media reports regarding the conduct of the Chief Prosecutor of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, Goran Salihović, announced TI BiH, as reported by the Patria news agency.  

-Namely, information appeared in the media that the Chief Prosecutor, Goran Salihović, through and under pressure from third parties, „closed“ several investigations against the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, and it is alleged that official notes and transcripts exist, which are in the possession of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA).

TI BiH requested the Office of the Disciplinary Prosecutor to review these allegations within its competence, as they may indicate several disciplinary violations by the Chief Prosecutor as prescribed by the Law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council.

The disciplinary violations relate to breaches of the principle of impartiality, obtaining benefits from undue influence on decisions and actions of prosecutors, using the function of a prosecutor to obtain unjustified benefits for oneself or others, and damaging the reputation of the prosecutorial function.

The allegations of inappropriate conduct by the Chief Prosecutor gain particular importance and credibility in the context of the constant lack of results by the Prosecutor's Office of BiH in prosecuting corruption cases, especially those involving high-ranking officials. The Office of the Disciplinary Prosecutor is obliged to investigate all allegations, because if they prove to be true, they could call into question all previous actions of the Prosecutor's Office and further undermine the reputation of this institution.

TI BiH expects the Office of the Disciplinary Prosecutor, due to the seriousness of the allegations, to conduct a transparent procedure, in which it will inform the public of all facts and determine the individual responsibility of all those linked to this case, the statement reads.