HJPC Members Increase their Earnings Through Per Diems
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According to HJPC data, Milorad Novkovic, Obren Buzanin and Zijad Kadric earn the most.
Novkovic, who was the president of the HJPC for eight years, earned 157,696 Marks in total, while also receiving a salary for being president of the district court in Banja Luka.
Buzanin, a member of the HJPC since September 2007, has received 145,373 Marks from the HJPC, while also receiving a salary as a judge with the Supreme Court of Banja Luka.
Kadric, a member of the HJPC since 2009, has earned 129,407 Marks while also working as a judge with the appeals court of the Brcko district court.
HJPC data shows that 46 members of the council have earned nearly 2 million Marks over the past ten years. This amount doesn’t include the salaries they receive from other institutions which designated them HJPC members. A judge’s salary ranges from 3200 to 4000 Marks.
Members receive lump-sum payments and salaries
The HJPC president and its members can legally continue to receive salaries and other payments from their employers while performing their functions within the council.
The HJPC was established in the beginning of June 2004. Its task is to ensure an independent, unbiased and professional judiciary. The HJPC also appoints judges and prosecutors and monitors their work. It’s financed from the state budget and international donations.
The council consists of 15 members. Its president, two vice presidents and one member work full time.
Most of the council members come from prosecutions, courts and attorney chambers. They are appointed to a term of four years. They can have a maximum of two consequent terms in office.
Since the HJPC president works full time, he or she receives a monthly lump sum payment of 1300 Marks. The vice presidents and one member receive 1000 Marks each. Other members receive 200 or 250 Marks per working day.
This isn’t the only form of remuneration they receive from the HJPC. Members can also earn large amounts of money through per diems and other payments. According to HJPC data, 40 council members have earned nearly 300,000 Marks through per diems or daily allowances.
Daily allowances make up one third of Novkovic’s total earnings. HJPC data indicates he received the largest number of per diems in 2012, coming up to a total of nearly 12,050 Marks.
Kadric – per diem record holder
Other members of the HJPC have also benefited from per diems. Kadric has received more per diems than Novkovic. Since 2009, Kadric has received per diems totalling 50,000 Marks. In 2012, he received approximately 16,100 Marks through per diems.
State auditors have criticized the HJPC with their practices with regards to per diems. In 2011, the Council of Ministers said daily allowances should be cut by half. In 2012, state auditors said per diems should be cut down to 50 Marks per day.
The HJPC began implementing the Council of Ministers’ decision in late 2012.
Auditors also noticed that per diems were paid to council members who worked full time, for activities such as attending council sessions.
“We consider the Council’s seat to be their workplace. Therefore they should not be paid daily allowances for coming to and performing work at the Council,” state auditors said in a 2013 report.
The HJPC has not submitted data on per diems paid outside of the country.
