Fmr Sarajevo Mayor suspected of giving bribe and other crimes

Fena

The former Sarajevo Mayor and current BiH Ambassador to Qatar, Abdulah Skaka, is suspected of giving a bribe in connection with the election of the Sarajevo City Council Chair, so that Bogic Bogicevic could not be elected Mayor of Sarajevo, the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office of Sarajevo Canton told N1, Tuesday evening.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Sarajevo Canton police apprehended Skaka on suspicion of committing several crimes: abuse of office, unscrupulous work in the service, forgery of official documents, giving gifts and other forms of benefits.

Unofficially, N1 also learned that he is suspected of allegedly illegally hiring advisers, spending budget money, that he used the money for returnees to bring lighting to his cottage, falsifying reports and several other actions.

Shortly after he was apprehended, BiH Presidency member Denis Becirovic initiated activities related to his dismissal from the position of Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the State of Qatar.

The procedure will be carried out in accordance with the current regulations governing the area, respecting the presumption of innocence and the competent judicial authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Becirovic's cabinet announced.

Skaka is the second high-ranking official of the Bosniak centre-right Democratic Action Party (SDA), as well as the ambassador, who was arrested recently. Bosnia’s Ambassador to Malaysia and former Mayor of Ilidza Senaid Memic was also arrested on suspicion of having committed a series of crimes and was sentenced to one month's detention.