Prosecutions for sinking the state

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Basic Court in Pristina on Thursday, February 1, 2018, found Naser Keljmendi guilty of unauthorized possession of narcotics for the purpose of distribution and sentenced him to six years in prison, while he was acquitted on eight other counts of the indictment, including the murder of Ramiz Delalić.

"We must say that we are not entirely sure that the Bosnian authorities have submitted all the relevant evidence in the case. On many occasions, the prosecutor, the defense, and the court itself, were surprised by the evidence that appeared and was suddenly handed to us by the Bosnian authorities," stated Judge Ana Adamska Gallant.

The first count of the indictment for criminal organization and the second count for the organized murder of Ramiz Delalić Ćele were dropped. The third count of the indictment related to drug trafficking, and Keljmendi was sentenced to six years for it.   

Therefore, regardless of the enormous public attention it attracted, this process has failed. As in many other cases, significant financial resources and enormous energy were spent. In the end, it turned out to be for nothing.

The consequences also concern the loss of the little reputation that the judiciary had. The story of the rule of law has definitely reached a dead end. Confidence in state institutions has fallen to its lowest point. The fact is that after dozens of such failed court proceedings, huge amounts of money are being pocketed from the budget. It shows that the judiciary in Bosnia and Herzegovina often serves to settle scores with political opponents, or that politics influences court proceedings. This is partly discussed in the Council of Europe Resolution adopted a few days ago.

Dragan Čović was acquitted simply because part of the documentation disappeared during transport from one court to another.

Živko Budimir was acquitted because, after numerous indictments, only the problematic possession of a pistol remained, whose permit had expired the day before. Mirko Šarović was persecuted for years and finally acquitted due to lack of evidence.

The proceedings for the recapitalization of Energopetrol by INA – MOL, in which former Prime Minister Nedžad Branković was accused, were conducted for years and finally closed without guilt, even though the state was damaged by hundreds of millions of KM.

Let's recall the "Gibraltar" case, a spectacular arrest, the public disclosure of dozens of indications of robbery and money laundering by a group with the main accused Neven Kulenović. All the accused were collectively acquitted. We also remember the arrest of Šemsudin Mehmedović and his release without explanation or any judicial reaction.

Mirsad Vatrač was convicted of crimes and sentenced to 10 years in the first instance, and in February 2016, he was finally acquitted after 13 months in custody. Today, he is suing the state and demanding, rightfully, huge compensation. Fatih Hasanović, who stayed in Syria, sued BiH because he was in custody for 30 days and no criminal proceedings were ever initiated. He is seeking compensation.

There is already talk of a lack of evidence and an unsustainable indictment against Amir Zukić. Namely, that indictment does not contain a single compromising detail against Zukić, nor did any prosecution witness meet him on the way, let alone accuse him.

We could list lost proceedings by prosecutors, but also by courts due to inaction, poor work, and ignorance for days. There are suspicions of corruption and bribery.

Let's not forget, this is about money taken from honest citizens and their children.   

The only proceedings that prosecutors have not lost concern the poor, or the cases have not yet been taken out of the drawers.

After the case of the "murder" of the young man Dženan Memić, the investigation, which was going, one could say, in a directed or ordered direction, is becoming increasingly complicated. Contradictions are multiplying daily.