Prosecutor Mihajlović read Dautbašić and Šahman's private messages, some outside the indictment period

The trial of Fahrudin Radončić and others continued at the Court of BiH, and today prosecutor Božo Mihajlović continued presenting evidence, namely reading Viber messages between the second and third defendants, Bakir Dautbašić and Bilsena Šahman, reports the Patria News Agency.

During the reading of the first messages sent on November 30, 2015, the defense of Bilsena Šahman, attorney Mirna Delalić, objected, stating that these were messages outside the time frame specified in the indictment.

Prosecutor Mihajlović stated that these messages show the preparation of a criminal offense and that Šahman participated with Dautbašić in securing the position of director of Sarajevo Pharmacies.

When asked by judge Hasija Mašović why this was important, the prosecutor said it was a motive to harm someone and influence witnesses.

Radončić also spoke, stating that Šahman did not come to the Pharmacies through party affiliation, nor did she apply for the position, and that a completely different person was chosen.

Expert witness Adnan Bešlić read Viber messages from December 15, 2015, between Šahman and Dautbašić regarding a meeting with Azra Sarić.

Dautbašić: She wants to meet me at half past four at Paper Moon

Šahman: Don't let anyone see you. Maybe it's a trap. Suggest meeting at my place. Or I can call her. They still need to take pictures of you.

Dautbašić: Okay.  

Reading further messages from the same day, but in the evening, the defense objected that these were private messages and were being taken out of context.

Judge Mašović stated that messages cannot be considered if they lack continuity. Prosecutor Mihajlović will submit lists with all messages to the Court of BiH at the defense's request.

Given that messages from December 28, 2015, were read, when Dautbašić was supposed to be a candidate for the Minister of Transport and Communications of BiH, the defense reacted, and Judge Mašović told the prosecutor that the Court is not interested in political elections if they are not related to the indictment.

Dautbašić himself addressed the Court, asking the Court to protect him and Šahman from prosecutor Mihajlović, given that he is reading private messages and communications.

Prosecutor Mihajlović also submitted as evidence a summons that Šahman received from the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office of KS for an interview during the investigation, which she informed Dautbašić about. He interpreted this as influencing witness Azra Sarić.

Attorney Tatjana Savić stated that Dalida Burzić, Chief Prosecutor of KS, testified as a witness before the Court of BiH, and that this summons had already been shown and was already part of the case file as evidence.

After a short break, the Court of BiH granted the request of all defense teams and prosecutor Mihajlović to reach an agreement on further evidence presentation while preserving privacy, after which the trial was adjourned.

Attorney Savić stated after the hearing that all defense teams objected to the illegality of this evidence, and the Court decided to make a decision on the objections later, thus proceeding with the presentation of this evidence.

- Now, the practical issue remains how the prosecutor will present his evidence while preserving privacy and avoiding unnecessary intrusion into the privacy of the accused. We will try to reach an agreement with the prosecutor on the further course of presenting this evidence – Savić said.

The trial continues on December 21.