The Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) assessed in its closing words that it proved the responsibility of Federal Prime Minister Fadil Novalic and other accused for abuses during the procurement of respirators in the spring of 2020, noting that 10.5 million from the budget was wasted.
The prosecution began its closing arguments in an unusual way, as prosecutor Dzermin Pasic said, because he believes that this is a specific case that was initiated on the basis of investigative journalism, and whose investigation was accompanied by numerous obstructions and which was conducted with minimal support from police agencies. He also complained about the judges’ comments and procedural decisions of the Council to the detriment of the Prosecutor’s Office.
“There was great public interest because it is clear to everyone that this country is chained in the jaws of corruption,” Pasic told.
According to him, this case showed that one call or SMS is enough to hand over money from the budget to whoever is suitable, that is, to entrust the procurement of respirators to “Srebrena Malina”, even though that company has never been involved in the import of medical equipment.
He spoke about the ancient and medieval principles that rule inBiH, and the state in which citizens are not allowed to ask whereis the money from the budget, as well as the danger that the judiciary, as an independent pillar of government, will fall.
Prosecutor Mirza Hukeljic then analyzed the presented evidence, stating that the money from the budget was given to a company that was selected, not chosen, in the prescribed procedure.
He recalled the messages and communication of Novalic, the suspended director of the Federal Administration of Civil Protection (FUCZ) Fahrudin Solak and the owner of “Srebrena Malina” Fikret Hodzic, which show their association, but also deny their claims from the investigation that they did not jointly plan the procurement.
Hukeljic said that the respirators were not adequate for the treatment of serious conditions in covid patients, but that – even if they were the best – the way the work was done was a criminal offense.
“We don’t know where they are or what they are used for (imported respirators), and we know that there is no money in the budget – 10,530,000. This is wasted money,” Hukeljicstressed.
Novalic‘s defense will present its closing arguments on February 22nd, Detektor reports.
E.Dz.
