BOSNIAN STATE COURT: VERDICT IN CASE OF FORMER BOSNIAN PRESIDENT DRAGAN COVIC AND OTHERS REVOKED

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (September 28,2007) - The Appellate Panel of Section II for Organised Crime, Economic Crime, and Corruption of the Bosnian State Court issued a decision on appeals against the Trial Panel’s verdict rendered of 17 November 2006 in the case of former bosnian President Dragan Covic and Others.

The decision upholds the appeals filed by the Bosnian State Prosecutor’s Office and defence counsel for Dragan Covic, revokes the Trial Panel’s verdict and orders a retrial before the Appellate Panel.

The decision states that the appeals were upheld on the basis of essential violations of criminal procedure provisions.

On 17 November 2006, the Trial Panel handed down the first instance verdict in this case, finding Dragan Covic guilty of Abuse of office or official authority and sentencing him to five years imprisonment.

The Panel acquitted Dragan Covic, Jozo Ivankovic – Lijanovic, Slavo Ivankovic – Lijanovic, Mladen Ivankovic – Lijanovic, Jerko Ivankovic – Lijanovic, Mato Tadic, and Zdravko Lucic of the remaining charges in the indictment.

As the Bosnian State Prosecutor’s Office did not file appeals in relation to the Accused Mato Tadic and Zdravko Lucic, their acquittals by the Trial Panel have become final.