Živko Budimir acquitted of all charges

(Patria) - Živko Budimir, former President of the Federation of BiH, was acquitted today in the Municipal Court in Sarajevo. The KS Prosecutor's Office accused him of criminal offenses of abuse of position or authority, and receiving or giving gifts or other forms of benefits. 

Budimir was accused of, acting with other defendants, as President of the Federation of BiH, on his own initiative or after interventions by various individuals, including persons from political life, as well as persons from the criminal milieu, abusing the position and authority of the President of the FBiH, illegally granting pardons, acquittals from prison sentences, and expunging criminal records for persons convicted of various prison sentences.

The case also included Suad Kulosman, Željko Asić, and Armin Kulovac, who pleaded guilty and reached an agreement with the Prosecutor's Office and were convicted; Petar Barišić, for whom an arrest warrant was issued; and the Assistant Minister of Justice of the FBiH, Hidajet Halilović, against whom the investigation was suspended due to lack of evidence of his involvement in criminal offenses. This case was initially handled by the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, after which it was transferred to the cantonal level. The trial in this case has been ongoing for almost four years. The KS Prosecutor's Office announced an appeal against this decision.