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Vesna Kaknjo, Chief Prosecutor with the Zenica-Doboj Prosecution, said that the new building would be more functional and enable “normal working conditions and recruitment of new staff members”.
Kaknjo explains that the Prosecution has recruited two expert assistants to deal with war-crimes cases through OSCE projects during this year. She further said that, in order to provide them with offices, they had to empty the typing bureau premises.
Three prosecutors and two expert assistants working with the Zenica-Doboj Prosecution are currently dealing with war-crime cases.
Kaknjo considers that they have achieved good results, pointing out that 20 cases covering 78 persons are currently in the investigation phase, while 34 reports have been filed against 122 persons.
“During this year we have filed four indictments against five persons,” Kaknjo said.
She said that two prosecutors, an expert assistant and typist had to share one small office.
“The Cantonal Government approved the recruitment of five expert assistants, three of whom will start working soon. Two more will be recruited at the end of the year. We do not even have one square metre available for their offices,” Kaknjo said.
According to Kaknjo, besides being too small, the building is old, so the installations could not serve such a large quantity of electronic and informatics equipment.
She said that, for this reason, the Prosecution had actively tried to find ways for improving the working conditions, adding that construction of a new building specifically for this purpose was an adequate solution. The new building will be located in the downtown area, next to the Municipal Court building in Zenica. It will provide conditions for protecting victims of war crimes and sexual violence as well as minors.
“The Zenica-Doboj Canton will co-finance the construction. I think that we have done all we could. I hope that the tender for selection of contractor will be issued in the autumn and that the construction works will begin next spring,” Kaknjo explained.
