Prosecutor's Office of BiH opens case against Director Admir Suljagić from HJPC

(Patria) - The State Prosecutor's Office has opened a case against the Director of the Secretariat of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) Admir Suljagić, after the president of this judicial institution sent information to the Prosecutor's Office regarding media reports alleging that Suljagić favored convicts and influenced judicial appointments.

The Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed to Detektor that they have opened a case and assigned it to a prosecutor who will examine the allegations from the Council President's submission.

The portal Istraga published correspondence at the end of September, which they claim was authored by Admir Suljagić with one of the individuals arrested in the "Rudnik" operation by the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), indicating favoritism and services rendered to individuals serving prison sentences in Orašje. Suljagić, as reported by the portal Istraga, mediated in the appointment of judicial office holders.

In a conversation with Detektor, Lagumdžija confirmed that he had submitted the information about the portal Istraga's publications to the State Prosecutor's Office.

"If there is something, my thesis is that the system's institutions should investigate it and provide an answer. Whenever information is received, even if it's an article in the newspaper, they follow it, and when the word reaches them, a case is opened. It's up to them now, I've done my part," says Lagumdžija.

Detektor could not obtain a comment from Suljagić; no one answered the phone number of the HJPC Secretariat.

Earlier, Biljana Simeunović resigned from her position as Vice-President of the HJPC, citing obstruction by the Director and Secretariat of the Council, and a lack of communication that prevented her from performing duties stipulated by the Law on HJPC.

"Regarding the Secretariat, there were very unpleasant situations. My job is what you authorize me to do, and that is written in the Law, however, there was great resistance. I do not want to take responsibility for something I cannot perform, I cannot supervise the Secretariat because the Director does not approve it," Simeunović stated briefly at the time in her explanation to the Council members.