First-instance verdict in the Turković and others case overturned

The Appellate Panel of the Court of BiH overturned the first-instance verdict in the Zijad Turković case.

Fahrija Karkin, Zijad Turković's lawyer, confirmed to the Patria news agency that Turković has now been remanded in custody for up to a year, and that a retrial has been scheduled for September 18.

The Court of BiH, in the case of Zijad Turković and others, imposed a sentence of 100 years for the multi-million dollar robbery of the Cargo Center at Sarajevo Airport, the monstrous murders of five people, drug and arms trafficking, extortion, and other criminal offenses.

However, the Appellate Panel of the Court of BiH overturned the first-instance verdict in this case, accepting the defense's appeal.

Chief Prosecutor of the BiH Prosecutor's Office Goran Salihović stated today in an interview with Avaz that the overturning of the first-instance verdict against Turković is a disaster for the BiH judiciary and that he does not know where such cases will lead us.

The verdict in the Turković case was entirely overturned in the conviction part, and the Prosecutor's Office's appeal of the acquittal part was rejected.

Zijad Turković and Milenko Lakić received sentences of long-term imprisonment of 40 years each, Saša Stjepanović 12, and Fadil Aljović five years. Muamer Zahitović received three years for extortion and money laundering, while Nijaz Zuban and Hilmija Mašović were acquitted of charges, writes NAP.