HJPC Wants to Monitor Appointments of Public Defenders
High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has decided to introduce oversight over how attorneys get selected to defend clients entitled to free representation. Also in the Federation of BiH judicial authorities started an internal investigation related to cases of police officers allegedly suggesting certain attorneys to defendants or suspects.
Extra Profit for Court Appointed Attorneys
Court appointed defenses represent lucrative business for a small number of attorneys. Their less well paid peers and some inmates say that judges in violation of regulations may even propose attorneys for certain jobs.
For Parties It Pays To Break the Law
Violating the law pays off for BiH’s leading political parties even when they are caught at it. Fines are so small, violations usually get repeated.
New Indictment against Dragan Čović
The Cantonal Court in Sarajevo has an eight-day deadline to confirm it or toss it out.
Parties in the Budget: First to Themselves Then Others
Between 2004 and 2010, the governments in BiH have spent 134.7 million KM of taxpayer money to finance political parties. Some politicians say money could be better used, but they are not doing anything to make that happen.
Illicit Assets Vanish after Verdicts
Judicial authorities often belatedly issue orders to freeze the assets of convicts after they have managed to sell them off.
Arrested Businessman Declares Innocence
Zoran Ćopić gave an exclusive interview to OCCRP seven days before he was arrested.
More Corruption – Fewer Trials
While the number of reported corruption cases rises, there are fewer trials and investigations against politicians can take years. BiH courts have acquitted one third of the white-collar defendants who have come before them, and mainly only the lowest level offenders get convicted. One out of five convicts get a jail term, while 80 percent gets away with a fine or probation.
Applying for a Job without Passing the Bar
Nedim Ćosić was appointed as an expert assistant with the Municipal Court in Sarajevo even though, at the time he applied for the job, he hadn’t taken the bar exam — one of the position’s key requirements.