The Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina sent a written request to the state court for a one-month detention order for the president of that court, Ranko Debevec, and the former director of the Intelligence and Security Agency (OSA), Osman Mehmedagić, who are suspected of abuse of office in connection with illegal wiretapping.
“A proposal to detain two persons has been submitted,” the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH briefly confirmed for Detektor.
After this request, the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina should schedule a hearing to present this proposal.
Earlier today, the first-instance disciplinary commission of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) of BiH temporarily removed Debevec from the duties of President of the Court of BiH, against whom an investigation is ongoing for illegal wiretapping.
The HJPC stated that when making its decision, the Commission was guided by the nature and type of the criminal offense included in the order to conduct the investigation, that is, that Debevec is suspected of corruption and acts against official and other responsible functions.
“The first-instance disciplinary commission believes that the continued performance of the duties of the president of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina until the investigation is completed would seriously threaten the credibility of the judicial function and the judiciary of BiH as a whole. With this decision, the first-instance disciplinary commission of the HJPC of Bosnia and Herzegovina in no way prejudices or can influence the outcome of the criminal investigation. as well as the defendant’s right to defense,” the statement said.
On December 18, 2023, together with Osman Mehmedagić, the former director of the Intelligence and Security Agency, Debevec was arrested for abuse of office, connected with other criminal acts.
After them, the lawyer Vasvija Vidović was also arrested for preventing evidence.
