High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH to make no decision on the BiH Prosecutor's Office Chief Prosecutor competition today

(Patria) - A decision on the fate of the competition for the Chief Prosecutor of the BiH Prosecutor's Office will be made at the two-day session of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH. As announced, HJPC President Halil Lagumdžija will give statements tomorrow regarding the appointment of the Chief Prosecutor, as well as the developments concerning prosecutor Diana Kajmaković, who was placed on the US blacklist and is under OFAC sanctions earlier this week.

"Diana Kajmaković is a flagrant example of a corrupt BiH state prosecutor, connected to criminal organizations. As part of broader efforts to combat organized crime and drug trafficking in BiH, investigators analyzed private communications conducted via encrypted messaging applications. Criminals who used this communication channel mentioned Kajmaković, who was working on some of the investigations related to these activities. In support of drug traffickers and other criminals, Kajmaković helped conceal evidence, prevent criminal prosecution, and otherwise assisted illegal activities in exchange for personal gain. She also attempted to block investigations into individuals from the criminal milieu with whom she clearly collaborated.

Kajmaković was placed on the list in accordance with Executive Order 14033 for being responsible for or complicit in, directly or indirectly engaging in activities or policies that undermine democratic processes or institutions in the Western Balkans. Furthermore, Kajmaković was placed on the list in accordance with Executive Order 14033 for being responsible for or complicit in, directly or indirectly engaging in corruption in the Western Balkans," states the OFAC decision.

The HJPC Disciplinary Prosecutor's Office stated that they have no legal basis to temporarily suspend Kajmaković as they have no information about a criminal investigation being launched. Since May, the BiH Prosecutor's Office has been verifying allegations of Kajmaković's involvement in illegal activities, after her name appeared in the communication of two criminals on the Sky application. Acting Chief Prosecutor Milanko Kajganić stated that the prosecutorial team working on the verification will also receive the documentation based on which Kajmaković was sanctioned and will make a decision.

Both Kajganić and Kajmaković were candidates for the position of Chief Prosecutor of the BiH Prosecutor's Office, as was prosecutor Miroslav Janjić. The HJPC Collegium proposed on Monday to repeat the competition procedure, and in the afternoon, the list of sanctions for prosecutor Kajmaković was published.

A larger number of candidates can certainly be expected for this position in the next competition.

The HJPC also considered the Report of the Provisional Investigative Commission on the situation in the judiciary today, with a note that it will take into account the recommendations stated in its work.

The semi-annual report on data concerning high corruption and organized crime cases was also adopted, and as stated, there are no changes compared to the previous period.

The international community has sharply criticized the BiH judiciary precisely because of the insufficient number of corruption cases, especially high corruption, and the prosecution of "big fish." They also told them to "clean up in front of their own doors" and that their financial support is not limitless, especially when results are lacking.