INDICTMENT ISSUED AGAINST VLADIMIR ŠPOLJARIĆ (1957), PRESIDENT OF CANTONAL COURT IN SARAJEVO

A Prosecutor of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina has issued an Indictment against the following person:

-      Vladimir Špoljarić, born in 1957 in Sarajevo, President of the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo.

The accused is charged that, during 2018 and 2019, while he was performing the duty of an Acting President, and later the President, of the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo, he continuously and on several occasions committed violence, harassment and sexual harassment by inappropriate acts and actions, thus endangering the serenity, mental health and bodily integrity of an employee of the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo, who pointed out to him on several occasions that his actions were undesirable and inappropriate.

During the sexual harassment and abuse, as her superior, the accused threatened the injured party, endangering her employment and existence, and by several inappropriate actions he caused serious harm to the injured party’s physical and mental health.

The accused is charged with gender-based violence, harassment and sexual harassment which endangered the serenity, mental health and bodily integrity of another person. In this manner, the accused committed the criminal offence referred to in Article 29 of the Law on Gender Equality of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The committed criminal offence is in violation of domestic and international conventions and acts that guarantee the safety of life and health and the protection of an individual from sexual discrimination.

The Prosecution will prove the allegations of the Indictment by calling 15 witnesses and expert experts, and by enclosing a larger amount of material evidence.

The Indictment has been forwarded to the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina for confirmation.