The Municipal Court in Kalesija confirmed the indictment in July last year against two officers of the Kalesija Police Station, Samir Valjevac and Mensur Nuhanović, for negligent work in the service. Since the indictment was confirmed, only one hearing was held against them, it was confirmed by the Cantonal Prosecutor’s Office of TK, while they have been under suspension for more than a year.
“The acting judge in the case for which you sent your inquiry is currently on sick leave, so until she returns from sick leave we cannot provide you with the information you requested,” the Municipal Court in Kalesija responded to the request for information on the date of the trial of the police officers.
The police officers acted contrary to the provisions of the Law on protection against domestic violence of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Rulebook on the method of implementing protective measures for perpetrators of domestic violence, which are under the jurisdiction of the police.
Danijela Huremović, head of the safe house “Viva žene” Tuzla, considers speedy processing important, stating that by delaying, they send the message that there is no justice and no law, and that not everyone is the same before the law.
“Regardless of the outcome, the procedure should have started immediately and there is no justification for a long delay. As citizens, we should seek information and submit civil initiatives demanding the responsibility of the authorities and those responsible in the institutions for not starting the procedure,” said Huremović.
She adds that with quick reactions to determine omissions and responsibility, citizens restore trust in institutions and a sense of security, but also sends an important message to others that they do their job more responsibly and that they can be sanctioned for omissions.
“It is precisely for this reason that it is important that these processes are timely, quickly implemented, so as not to get the impression that by delaying they are trying to avoid responsibility and to protect those who did not conscientiously and responsibly do their job,” Huremović told PIN.
On February 12, 2025, Emir Selimović killed Inela Selimović and their minor son. In September of the same year, the Cantonal Court in Tuzla sentenced him to a single long-term prison sentence of 45 years for the treacherous murder of his wife and minor son. The Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina decides on his appeal against the pronounced verdict.
After an investigation was launched against Valjevac and Nuhanović, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tuzla Canton (MUP TK) suspended them in March of last year, under which they have been suspended for more than a year, as long as the investigation and proceedings against them have been ongoing.
According to the Law on Police Officers of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a police officer may be temporarily suspended from the tasks and duties he performs or from the police authority if proceedings have been initiated against him.
“During the suspension, the police officer’s service weapon, badge and service card are confiscated and he is prohibited from wearing his service uniform,” the law states.
During the suspension from the police authority, the police officer is entitled to 55 percent of his salary, and in the case when he supports his family, he is also entitled to 65 percent. For minor violations of official duty, the internal procedure and decision must be completed within 60 days, while for more serious violations, the internal and disciplinary procedure is limited to nine months.
“When a criminal investigation is conducted against a police officer, disciplinary proceedings are initiated and suspended until the completion of the criminal proceedings or the completion of the criminal investigation,” the law states.
This law also prescribes a statute of limitations for minor injuries up to six months from the day the injury was committed, while for serious injuries up to one year.
The Penal Code of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina stipulates a penalty of three months to ten years in prison for negligent work in the service.
After the murder of Inela and her minor son, the activist from Kalesija, Hasmira Malić, organized a protest walk in this municipality with the message “Stop killing our daughters. A walk for all Inelas in silence.” She considers the long wait for police officers to be prosecuted devastating.
“Such actions send a very discouraging message to the victims, that even when there are official failures, accountability comes slowly or is absent. This can further scare women who are thinking of reporting violence, because they get the feeling that the system will not protect them even when they ask for help,” says Malić.
She believes that it is necessary to improve the coordination of institutions and ensure more efficient conduct of proceedings in cases of domestic violence, but also in determining the responsibility of officials who do not act in accordance with the law and protocols.
“It is necessary to continuously educate the police, judiciary and centers for social work on handling cases of gender-based violence,” she said.
Despite the failures of individuals and the lack of protection in some cases, Malić tells the victims of violence that they are not alone and that violence is never their fault, and that the whole society must fight against it.
“Institutions have an obligation to protect them, and society has an obligation not to remain silent. Every voice that speaks about violence is important and must be taken seriously. Because it is the way to prevent these brutal murders of women, which are becoming more and more common in our country,” she said.
(TYPE/Source: pinmedia.ba/Authors: Azra Delmanović Avdić, Azra Husarić Omerović/Photo: PIN)
