SARAJEVO (Reuters) – Bosnian police on Monday arrested the president of the state court and the former head of the spy agency for suspected abuse of office and other criminal acts, the state prosecutor´s office said in a statement.
The officers of the State Information and Protection Agency (SIPA) arrested court president Ranko Debevec and former head of the intelligence agency OSA/OBA Osman Mehmedagic on a prosecutor´s order, the statement said.
“The named individuals are suspected of the criminal act abuse of office, linked to other criminal acts listed under Bosnia-Herzegovina criminal code,” the statement said, adding that no further information would be released.
Debevec has presided over the state court since 2017.
The High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council had earlier conducted a disciplinary investigation into Debevec over his behaviour, in and outside court, that the council has said was damaging to the reputation of his office.
Debevec was reportedly meeting Mehmedagic outside the court at the time when separate criminal charges were filed against him. He was also accused of providing misleading information about his property.
The disciplinary charges against him were later dismissed.
In March, Mehmedagic was sanctioned by the United States for allegedly undermining democratic institutions and endangering peace and stability in the Western Balkans.
He was accused of having misused the state-owned telecommunications company to benefit a political party and that he collaborated with criminal networks for personal and party enrichment.
(Reporting by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by Nick Macfie)
