The Municipal Court in Banovići declared all the evidence of the Prosecutor’s Office illegal at the trial of the former first man of Banovići, Bega Gutić (SDA), reports report.
The Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Turkey previously requested that, due to the fact that Gutić is from Banovići, the proceedings against the former chief be transferred to another Court at the level of the Tuzla Canton, but that proposal was rejected.
Everything is questionable now
This morning, the Municipal Court requested that the Prosecutor’s Office provide them with all the evidence from the indictment, which they did. However, the court then decided that all the evidence was illegal, which makes the proceedings against Gutić more than questionable, as well as the continuation of the trial.
It remains for the witnesses to be heard, but it is questionable whether that will happen.
According to information from the Report, this morning’s main trial was also attended by representatives of the US Embassy and the OSCE. This is an unprecedented precedent for the Court to declare all evidence illegal at the beginning of the proceedings.
As a reminder, Gutić is accused of having, in the period from May 2020 to July 2023, as the president of the Municipal Organization of the Democratic Action Party (SDA) Banovići, and since December 2020 the head of the Municipality of Banovići, committed criminal acts in connection with receiving a reward or other form of benefit for influence peddling, giving a gift or other form of benefit, and participating in a group of people who prevent an official from performing an official act.
In the second count of the indictment, it is charged that in February 2022, using his position as mayor and president of the SDA Municipal Board, he offered a councilor from the opposition party an illegal benefit in the form of the employment of members of his family in public institutions and companies, with the aim of the councilor leaving his party and joining the club of SDA councilors Banovići, which would ensure a political majority in the municipal council. The councilor rejected the offer, and the defendant’s actions were contrary to the principle of legality and transparency, thus he knowingly violated the Code of Conduct adopted by the Banovići Municipal Council, and acted contrary to the provisions of the Law on Conflict of Interest in Authorities in FBiH.
Prevented the councilor from entering
In the third count of the indictment, Gutić is accused of using his political and official position to organize a public gathering of citizens in front of the Banovići Municipality building in July 2023 with the aim of preventing councilors from entering the premises of the Banovići Municipality Council. The gathered citizens, led by the accused, physically prevented access to the councilors, with verbal and physical attacks, thus preventing the municipal legislative body from performing its official action in accordance with the law.
(TYPE/Source: Raport.ba/Photo: Archive)
