INDICTMENT ISSUED IN HIGH CORRUPTION CASE AGAINST FORMER MINISTER OF DEFENSE OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

 The accused is charged with having, in the period from 2009 to 2011, while performing the function of the Minister of Defense of BiH, abused the Office of the Minister of State by illegally favoring a buyer to the detriment of the Ministry he managed during the execution of the export and sales plan of surplus obsolete weapons, ammunition and military equipment.

The indictment alleges that the accused has, completely illegally and by way of bypassing the legal procedures, without informing his deputies as well as the Presidency of BiH, amended the contracts, after which he, instead of exporting obsolete weapons and ammunition that was intended for write-off and sale in order to reduce storage and maintenance costs, exported to the company "Scout" d.o.o. /LLC/ Zagreb weapons and ammunition of higher quality and market demand, thus causing damages to the BiH budget in the approximate amount of 9.7 million BAM and assuring property gain in the amount of several million to other individuals.

 

The accused is charged with having, as an official in the executive bodies of BiH serving in his capacity of State Minister of Defense, used his Office to perform actions which caused damage to the BiH budget and ensured a large amount of property gain for another, thus committing a prolonged criminal offense of Abuse of Office or Authority under Article 220 of the Criminal Code of BiH.

 

The Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina will prove the guilt of the accused by examining a large number of witnesses and expert witnesses and enclosing several hundred pieces of documentary evidence.

 

The indictment was forwarded to the Court of BiH for confirmation.