After five years, Adnan Karaman and Kemal Hrvo, formerly respected police officers, were finally acquitted of charges of abuse and conduct that allegedly led to death. Proceedings against their colleague Džemal Hadžiabdić will be reopened due to procedural issues. Although proven innocent, both Hrvo and Karaman were left without a job.
The story of these two dismissed exemplary officers highlights broader issues regarding the actions of the judiciary. In delicate situations like these, where verdicts are issued without evidence, the consequences often extend beyond the individuals, affecting their families. The role of the media in such cases is frequently unprofessional, and sometimes, embarrassingly so.
“My name is Adnan Karaman, former police officer, member of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Sarajevo Canton. I received multiple awards during my career, but due to the actions of the institution’s employees, I lost my job and I am currently registered at the employment bureau,” Karaman said while standing in front of the Prosecutor’s Office of Sarajevo.
“I have dreamed my entire life of becoming a police officer. My father is a retired police officer. I have been surrounded by police officers my whole life, and this has always been the only vocation for me,” he added.
Karaman and two colleagues found themselves facing criminal charges after a pursuit on July 31, 2020, during which they risked, possibly, their lives chasing multiple offenders, one of whom was wanted on a warrant. In their profession, there is no presumption of innocence, an indictment often meant immediate termination.
“The consequence of such legal regulations is that the police commissioner is obliged to terminate employment,” said Alen Nakić, Karaman’s lawyer.
The central question is how the indictment came about. After one fugitive was captured, another continued to flee, sustaining injuries that ultimately led to his death. Karaman and Hrvo were acquitted in both first and second instances regarding the cause of death. The final verdict from the Prosecutor’s Office confirms their innocence, yet the officers remain unemployed after five years of trial.
“Certain actions were attributed to him in the charge, even though there was absolutely no evidence. Such evidence was never presented in court. And this does not only happen in this case. I think this is outrageous!” stated Adna Dobojlić, Hrvo’s lawyer.
“In her final address, the esteemed cantonal prosecutor explicitly stated that there is not a single piece of evidence proving that Adnan Karaman committed the alleged criminal act, yet she continued to insist he was guilty,” said Nakić.
Rarely do we reflect on the consequences of hastily issued indictments. These police officers may eventually return to work, but irreparable damage has already been done,since they lost perhaps the most productive five years of their careers.
“Lives are destroyed, people lose their jobs, families are affected. Not just through separation, but through serious illnesses. I know several of my clients who went through situations like this and are now seriously ill. Their families also suffered,” Dobojlić emphasized.
Karaman’s case is almost a cry from the policing profession itself.
“If guilt is assigned in advance, before the court determines it, especially when public figures are involved, the weight of their words in the public space is significant,” said former and decorated officer Dragan Mioković.
“In this context, we cannot ignore the very active role of the media in shaping such public perceptions,” Nakić warned.
Ultimately, this case demonstrates the profound impact that courts, prosecutors, and the media can have on an individual. Karaman addressed his fellow officers after enduring both media and judicial trials while performing his duty to apprehend a wanted criminal:
“It is smarter to turn your head away, unfortunately. Even the honorable police officers in this country, in this canton, sometimes look the other way when faced with problems.”
Yet, this was only a moment of frustration. His smile when asked about returning to service says it all: “I hope I will.”
