The Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina is appealing for a stricter sentence for former Minister of Defense, Selmo Cikotić, who was sentenced to three years in prison for abuse of authority. Meanwhile, the defense is calling for a change or cancellation of the verdict and a new trial.
Cikotić’s defense attorneys did not attend the hearing due to a lawyers’ strike, leading to a request to postpone the proceedings. Despite this, the Appellate Council proceeded with the hearing, with the Prosecution pushing for a harsher sentence and the defense citing violations of criminal procedure and a need for retrial.
In December last year, Cikotić was found guilty of favoring a company from Zagreb and abusing his position, resulting in damages to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Prosecution argues for a higher sentence, while Cikotić maintains his innocence, denying any agreement or intention to commit a criminal act.
The Appellate Council will decide on the appeals in the future. For more information, visit BIRN BiH.