After dozens of delays and more than six years since its confirmation, the trial of Alija Delimustafic et al, who are accused of organized crime, illegal registration and resale of real estate, and other crimes, began with the reading of the indictment in the Sarajevo Cantonal Court.
After taking the defendants’ information and informing them of their rights, the chairman of the Judicial Council, Igor Todorovic, asked the prosecutor to read the indictment.
Delimustafic‘s defense attorney, Ifet Feraget, objected with the statement that he previously asked for a technically arranged indictment to be delivered to him, because the factual description includes persons who are not in this proceeding, as well as that there are persons in the courtroom who are not included in the indictment.
Along with Alija Delimustafic, the indictment includes Izet Music, Zoran Loncar, Emir Karaca, Elvira Kreho, Dzemal Karic, Lejla Ceric, Suada Hadzic, Edina Mutevelic, Kemo Kapur, Enver Delimustafic, Samira Skorupan, Sead Hadzic, Zaim Spahovic, Sevala Arnautovic and Hamdija Habul, and several legal entities.
Prosecutor Samir Selimovic stated that he was reading the indictment, which was confirmed on October 6th, 2017. According to the parts of the indictment read by Selimovic, Alija Delimustafic organized and managed an organized crime group with the aim of obtaining illegal property benefits of great value, while other accused in this case became members of it knowingly and willingly.
“Alija Delimustafic, as the organizer and head of the organized crime group, using his social influence, primarily in police and judicial circles, as the former Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (RBiH) devised ways, made decisions and gave instructions for the execution of criminal acts and actions, agreed with other members and planned the execution of criminal acts and actions, carried out the agreed actions with other members,” Selimovic read.
According to the indictment that was read yesterday, Lejla Fazlagic-Pasic, a judge of the Municipal Court in Sarajevo, undertook actions with the aim of acquiring ownership rights to real estate. Juso Skrijelj, a long-time friend and most trusted person of Alija Delimustafic, and the legal representative and owner of several legal entities, illegally acquired, received, held and disposed of real estate and money that he knew were obtained by committing a criminal offense.
As it was read, Izet Music, at the request of Alija Delimustaficand Skrijelj, filed fictitious lawsuits in his own name and on behalf of legal entities, and Zoran Loncar, Nihad Druskic, Zaim Spahovic participated in fictitious litigation proceedings and fraudulently concluded real estate sales contracts. Emir Karaca, Murisa Makarevic and Kemo Kapur, according to the requests and orders of Delimustafic and Fazlagic-Pasic, acted as lawyers in court and other proceedings, even though they knew that such proceedings were fake and aimed at achieving the goals of the organized crime group.
The court panel made a decision to separate the proceedings in relation to Edin Arnautovic. After his defense attorney Izet Bazdarevic did not appear in the courtroom on time, Arnautovicrefused to consent to being represented by another defense attorney in the meantime. After that, he left the courtroom and fell ill, which is why the Emergency Service intervened, and then a decision was made to separate the proceedings.
The Prosecution objected with the statement that Edin Arnautovic was recently medically examined when it was determined that he was fit to stand trial.
Judge Todorovic said that, according to the order of the President of the Court, the hearings will be held every Tuesday.
The next hearing is scheduled for April 16th, when the Cantonal Prosecutor’s Office will continue reading the indictment, Detektor reports.
