The trial of lawyer Vasvija Vidovic, accused of obstructing justice, commenced with the reading of the indictment and opening statements from the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the Defense.
According to the indictment read by prosecutor Fedja Fejzagic, on December 18th, 2023, Vidovic entered the official premises of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) after being called as a lawyer by Ranko Debevec, who was arrested that day as a suspect. It is stated that Debevec was allowed to communicate privately with Vidovic without the presence of police officers in a special room of SIPA.
The indictment alleges that Vidovic, aware of her illegal actions and intending to significantly hinder the proof of the mentioned criminal offenses before the Court of BiH, took a Samsung phone after Debevec took it out of his bag where he kept it.
Vidovic is accused of knowingly and willingly taking the phone, which was to be temporarily confiscated by order of the Court of BiH and used as evidence in the criminal proceedings against Debevec. She allegedly took her bag from the table and moved it towards Debevec, who then placed the phone inside the bag, after which Vidovic returned the bag to its original place.
Prosecutor Fejzagic announced that the Prosecution will prove Vidovic’s actions through the testimony of five SIPA police officers and the submission of 15 pieces of material evidence.
Defense attorney Senka Nozica stated that the entire process began when the Chief State Prosecutor Milanko Kajganic announced the indictment at a session of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC), which, according to the Defense, represents a disregard for the standards that should be applied to a respected lawyer.
Nozica claimed that such an announcement of the indictment raised doubts about the impartiality of the proceedings. She added that the indictment should not have been filed as it does not contain the essential elements of a criminal offense and stated that the Defense will prove Vidovic’s innocence.
Debevec and Osman Mehmedagic, the former director of the Intelligence and Security Agency, were arrested on suspicion of abuse of office and forgery of official documents. The investigation against Debevec was later expanded to include “receiving a bribe for influence peddling,” “false representation,” and “violating the Law on Gender Equality.” They were subjected to prohibitive measures in mid-March.
The date for the continuation of the trial, where the testimony of two witnesses is planned, will be announced later, Detektor writes.
E.Dz.
