BOSS MP's Immunity Does Not Protect Him: Smajić, Kojović, Ćudić, and Babić Gave Statements on Physical Assault

The Sarajevo Canton Prosecutor's Office formed a case on June 29 ex officio, concerning the physical assault of BOSS MP Rasim Smajić on colleague Predrag Kojović, which occurred at a session of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly held the day before, writes the Patria News Agency.

Statements were given to the Prosecutor's Office by Kojović and Sabina Ćudić, MPs of Our Party, and the President of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly Ana Babić from SBB. After Smajić knocked Kojović to the ground, Babić asked the cameraman of TV SA to stop the live broadcast, which they did.

Ćudić, for reminder, called out Smajić in her question for usurping parking space in Nedima Filipovića street where this MP lives.

This is an MP "privilege", which more than half use to park their vehicles using their MP identification wherever it suits them. Smajić parked his vehicle on the sidewalk, pedestrian crossing, wherever he could.

MP Ćudić's question angered Smajić, and he started cursing someone's children.

At that moment, Kojović stood up and asked the President Babić to suspend the session due to Smajić's inappropriate behavior and the numerous curses he uttered.

Smajić then turned, grabbed Kojović by the arm, and knocked him to the ground. SBB MP Zvonko Marić and Prime Minister Elmedin Konaković tried to separate them.

At that moment, "the third Serb" Nermin Bjelak moved towards the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Sarajevo Canton, Vedran Mulabdić, who also intervened to protect Kojović. Bjelak waved his hands and got in Minister Mulabdić's face.

Mulabdić then moved towards Bjelak, but Marić grabbed him from behind and stopped him to prevent a larger incident and physical altercation. The police did not enter the hall, and the live broadcast of the Sarajevo TV assembly session was immediately interrupted.

After this incident, Smajić apologized to his colleagues and left the hall.

Assembly MPs have limited immunity, which does not protect them in case of physical assault, not only in the hall during sessions, but throughout their mandate.

"Criminal proceedings or civil litigation cannot be initiated against an assembly MP, nor can an assembly MP be detained or punished in any way for expressing opinions or voting at an Assembly session," states the MP card, and this is the only situation in which an elected official can be protected.