Sarajevo lawyer Vasvija Vidovic has pleaded not guilty to the indictment of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), which charges her with obstruction of justice.
Vidovic is accused in the indictment of hiding the mobile phone of the suspect Ranko Debevec, the suspended president of the State Court, in the building of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA).
“I am not guilty,” said Vidovic.
According to a previous statement by the Prosecutor’s Office, on December 18th, 2023, Vidovic went to the official premises of SIPA in Istocno Sarajevo, after being called by the suspect Debevec, who was then arrested, to represent him as a lawyer in criminal proceedings.
As stated in the indictment, after Vidovic was allowed to communicate alone with the defendant without the presence of police officers, aware of her unlawful actions – and with the aim of significantly obstructing the proof of criminal offenses in the proceedings before the Court of BiH, knowing that the suspect’s mobile phone should be temporarily seized, upon the order of the Court of BiH – she allowed the suspect to place the mobile device in her bag.
Debevec and Osman Mehmedagic, former director of the Intelligence 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 gifts for trading in influence,” as well as “false representation” and “violations of the Law on Gender Equality.” Restrictive measures were imposed on them in mid-March.
Since Vidovic has denied guilt, the trial is expected to begin in the coming period.
