The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina rejected the proposal to extend the detention of Miloš Lučić, the former Minister of State for Human Rights and Refugees, who is suspected of abuse of position or authority in connection with several corrupt criminal acts, and imposed prohibitive measures on him.
The BiH Prosecutor’s Office requested a two-month extension of custody of suspect Lučić, as they stated, due to well-founded fears that he could destroy, hide, alter or falsify evidence or influence witnesses.
“The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina issued a decision rejecting as unfounded the proposal of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina and terminating the custody of the suspect Miloš Lučić determined by the Court’s decision of December 12, 2022,” it was confirmed by the Court for the Balkan Research Network of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIRN BiH).
Suspect Lučić must not leave his place of residence, and the Court’s decision restricts his movement to his home only. He was also given measures prohibiting him to travel outside BiH and a ban on meeting certain people.
“The suspect is prohibited from meeting and contacting in any way with other suspects in this criminal proceeding, as well as contacting the witnesses of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH in connection with this criminal case, as well as with all employees of the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH,” said the Court.
Former state minister Lučić was arrested in December last year on suspicion of abuse of office, embezzlement and fraud in the service, which caused damage to BiH budget funds and obtained illegal property benefits, the State Prosecutor’s Office announced earlier.
