Prosecutor's Office of BiH closing arguments in Memić case on 3 November

(Patria) - The evidentiary procedure in the trial of Zijad Mutap and others for concealing evidence related to the death of Dženan Memić in Sarajevo in February 2016 has concluded with statements on the final material evidence.

The Prosecutor's Office gave its statements on the material evidence submitted by the Defenses of the accused at the last hearing, held on 20 October, but was not ready for the closing argument that had been planned.

Prosecutor Ćazim Hasanspahić objected to the evidence of the Defenses of Zijad Mutap and Alisa Ramić, stating that the indictment and the testimony of the accused from another case cannot be evidence. He also opposed the submission of the expert report of Alisa Mutap from the case conducted before the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo.

“This finding cannot be submitted without hearing the experts… these are crucial matters,” said Hasanspahić.

He also objected to the submission of earlier findings on the health condition of the accused, as he believes that the Panel cannot interpret diagnoses without a doctor's explanation.

Defense attorney Goran Dragović said he withdraws the proposal for submitting the expert report, and regarding the medical findings, he stated that the Defense wants to show the continuity of the accused's illness.

Mutap and Ramić are charged alongside former Head of the Traffic Investigations Department Hasan Dupovac, police officer Josip Barić, and Muamer Ožegović.

The Prosecutor's Office had no objections to the evidence of Dupovac and Barić, as it mostly consists of evidence that it had also submitted. Hasanspahić only objected to the orders for initiating and suspending the investigation submitted by Barić's Defense. Defense attorney Kadrija Kolić said these are lawful evidence and support the Defense's claim that the Prosecutor's Office of BiH could not conduct the proceedings until the investigation was completed at the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office in Sarajevo.

The prosecutor objected to the relevance of the 2013 surveillance camera footage from the “Crystal” hotel submitted by Ožegović's Defense. Defense attorney Edin Šećerbegović said the Defense wants to show the quality and resolution of the footage.

The Prosecutor's Office and the Defenses stated they have no new proposals, so the evidentiary procedure was concluded.

At the last hearing, the Prosecutor's Office's closing argument was announced, but the prosecutors in the meantime requested an additional three weeks due to the complexity and volume of the case.

Presiding Judge Branko Perić said he does not understand why they need so much time and that they are disrupting the trial schedule. He told the prosecutors to prepare to deliver the closing argument on 3 November.