Dragan Mektic and others Accused of Corruption
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The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina has filed an indictment against former security minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dragan Mektic and three other persons for corruptive acts causing damage totalling more than KM 240,000.
The Prosecution has charged Dragan Mektic, Igor Golijanin, Samir Agic and Edin Garaplija with abuse of a position during the implementation of an interstate project on cross-border cooperation in the field of fire fighting, which was financed by the European Union’s Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Prosecution announced that the Project covered procurement of fire fighting equipment, recruitment of human resources, as well as purchase of materials from persons and close relatives coupled with an interest, through which unlawful proceeds were obtained.
As announced by the Prosecution, the project was worth Euro 198,454, while the total damage incurred amounted to KM 244,764.
Mektic has been charged with having abused the dominant position of security minister, which he performed until recently. It is further alleged that Golijanin has been charged in his capacity as chief of cabinet, and Agic as assistant minister, while Garaplija has been accused as a responsible person and owner of the Institute for Fire and Explosion Protection from Sarajevo.
The announcement indicates that the defendants committed “high-level corruption”, which damages the international reputation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. They have been charged with gross violations of the Law on Public Procurement, Law on Conflict of Interest in Governmental Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Law on Ministries and other Bodies of Administration in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Law on Civil Service in the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and internal regulations of the Bosnian Security Ministry.
As announced, the Prosecution opened the investigation following a report filed by the Federal Police Administration.
According to the announcement, the Prosecution plans to prove the allegations from the indictment through the examination of 31 witnesses and presentation of 140 pieces of material evidence.
