COURT OF B&H

The "Ventilators" affair: What happened today at the trial of Novalić and others

The report presented by the Prosecutor's Office of B&H states that on April 3rd, a contract was made for the purchase of one hundred ventilators

Borka Cerić

In today's continuation of the trial of Bakir's Prime Minister of FB&H Fadil Novalić, Fahrudin Solak, Fikret Hodžić and Jelka Milićević in the "Ventilators" affair, the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina has presented material evidence that was previously announced, but also new evidence.

With new evidence, prosecutor Mirza Hukeljić said that they prove the allegations in the indictment that indictee Fadil Novalić devised a plan to make money from the budget available to the Federal Civil Protection Administration (FCPA) for the purchase of ventilators through the company " Srebrena malina".

Interesting was the evidence related to the session of the Government of the FB&H of April 9th, 2020, at which the report of the FCPA was signed by the accused Solak. The report, presented by the Prosecutor's Office of B&H, states, among other things, that an agreement was reached on April 3rd on the purchase of one hundred ventilators.


The government decided to give consent for the procurement

Then Senka Nožica, the lawyer of Minister Jelka Milićević, reacted, saying that in the material of Milićević for that session, the FCPA report did not contain a sentence about the purchase of a hundred ventilators.

Nožica emphasized that they would subsequently present proof that there was no such sentence in the FCPA report that Milićević received.

Nožica objected to the authenticity of the evidence, so Hukeljić said that they received the material containing the report with that sentence from the FB&H Government.

The FCPA report for the period from March 26th to April 3rd, 2020, definitely states the funds allocated to the Clinical Centers in Sarajevo and Tuzla, and the Cantonal and University Hospital in Mostar, with the specifications and types of equipment that were procured. These are the issuance of funds for the purchase of masks, protective suits, goggles, disinfectants and tests for the detection of COVID 19.

Prosecutor Hukeljić pointed out an item in the FCPA report in which it is noted that the Government has made a decision to give consent for the procurement of equipment and materials in the amount of seven millions, but does not specify the type of equipment and that the Government of the Federation of B&H did not know about the purchase of 100 ventilators until April 9th last year.

The Prosecution also presented a contract dated April 3rd, 2020 for the purchase of 100 ventilators between the Federal Civil Protection Administration and Fikret Hodžić and "Srebrena malina" d. o. o. Srebrenica for 10.5 million KM. These are HCVE 003 ventilators, which were not purchased.


They are charged with conspiracy to commit crimes

The President of the Chamber of the Court of B&H, Judge Džemila Begović, has repeatedly warned prosecutors Mirza Hukeljić and Džermin Pašić not to evaluate or comment when presenting material evidence, and only to state the facts.

The trial is due to continue on June 4th.

Apart from Novalić, the Minister of Finance of FB&H Jelka Milićević, the suspended director of the Federal Administration of Civil Protection Fahrudin Solak and the owner of the company "Srebrena malina" Fikret Hodžić are accused of the disputable purchase of ventilators.

Novalić, Solak and Hodžić are charged with conspiracy to commit criminal offenses related to acts of abuse of position or authority, receiving a reward or other form of benefit for trading in influence.

The indictment also charges them with money laundering, falsification or destruction of business or trade books or documents, falsification of official documents and violation of the obligation to keep trade or business books and compile financial reports and their falsification or destruction.

Milićević is accused of negligent work in the service.