The trial of Edin Arslanagic et al. continued yesterday in the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo with the statement of the defense on the indictment amended by the Prosecution’s submission of March 17th. This concludes the evidentiary proceedings in this case, and the closing arguments of the prosecution are scheduled for April 24th.
The defense attorney for the first accused, lawyer Edina Residovic, focused on the evidentiary proposals regarding real estate owned by her client (Edin Arslanagic) and persons connected to him.
“The prosecution did not offer evidence”
She stated that the prosecution did not offer evidence that certain property was diverted to Arslanagic’s son Amar, and that there is no legal basis for confiscating it since it is a different case (the case against Amar is separate).
Moreover, she also stated that there is no evidence that anything was transferred to the second defendant’s son, Vedad, who, like his son Amar, currently lives in the United States (U.S.), presenting tax returns obtained from the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, with the remark that it is evident from everything that Vedad’s income exceeds the value of his property.
The representative of the prosecution, prosecutor Sead Krestalica, objected to the legality and relevance of the latter piece of evidence, reminding that it is evidence that was obtained through private channels, and not through international legal aid.
Income of 18.176 BAM
He also stated that Vedad Arslanagic in the incriminated period (January 2005 – December 2012) realized/declared an income of 18.176 BAM.
“Based on seniority”
In reference to the plaintiff’s allegations about the shares, the defendant, Aida Selvic, stated that the workers received the shares based on seniority and that they were not purchased and not freely transferable.
At the end of the hearing, the court panel rejected the defense’s proposal to conduct an additional financial investigation, thus concluding the evidentiary proceedings in this case, Avaz reports.
E.Dz.
