Indictment Against Judge Miletic Confirmed

The Bosnian state court confirmed the indictment against Azra Miletic, Senad Sabic and Ramo Brkic, who’ve been charged with giving and receiving a bribe.

Sabic and Brkic have been charged with giving gifts and other forms of benefits, while Miletic has been charged with accepting gifts and other forms of benefits.

Sabic and Brkic were sentenced to ten and 11 years in prison respectively for organized crime, under a first instance verdict handed down by the state court. They allegedly promised a gift in the form of money to Miletic, who was a judge with the Appellate Division, in order to affect the outcome of the second instance proceedings.

“With the intent to reduce the sentence imposed under the first instance verdict pronounced by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina or to effect a verdict of acquittal, they [Sabic and Brkic] promised, through mediator S1, a gift in the form of money to Azra Miletic, who acted as the Appellate Chamber President in the case, and thereupon gave her a portion of the promised amount of money,” a court announcement reads.

It is alleged that Miletic consented to rendering such decisions, and accepted the promised amount of money from mediator S1. Miletic subsequently received a portion of the promised amount.

“Using the position of the president of the Appellate Chamber, within her judicial powers, aware of her duty to impartially and conscientiously conduct the proceedings, and to provide for a fair trial and compliance with the procedural rights of both parties guaranteed under the criminal procedure code of Bosnia and Herzegovina, she knowingly violated the duties of a judge and by undertaking procedural and other actions, created conditions for rendering a more favourable decision,” a court announcement reads.

According to the indictment, the bribe occurred between July 2014 to February 26, 2015.

The defendants were arrested in February 2014. The court then ordered them into custody. The High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) suspended Miletic until the completion of the investigation.

After one month in custody, the prosecution did not file a motion for extending custody measures against Miletic and Brkic. Sabic has been in home detention since June.