Zenica Mayor sentenced to prison and banned from office

According to the verdict read so far, Kasumović has been sentenced to four years in prison and handed a protective measure banning him from serving as mayor for six years.

The case has been ongoing for nearly three years, during which the court held 92 hearings. The Cantonal Prosecutor’s Office of Zenica-Doboj Canton charged Kasumović and others with conspiracy to commit criminal offences, abuse of office or authority, causing bankruptcy, forgery of official documents, and negligence in public service, in connection with the transfer of ownership of the Zenica Bus Station to the City of Zenica.

The indictment also included ten other individuals: former Supervisory Board chairman Vahdet Drino, company director Besim Husakovic, city attorney Zlatko Osmanovic, city administration employee and assembly chairwoman Almira Barucija-Kapidzic, city internal auditor Asmir Masic, accountant Edin Mehic, Supervisory Board members of Zenicatrans Mesud Ormanovic and Amel Krivdic, as well as Land Registry Office officials from the Zenica Municipal Court, office head Abdulah Kratina and senior clerk Amela Djozo. All were also found guilty.

The reading of the verdict, which has already lasted over three hours, is still underway, with collective sentencing for the remaining defendants expected to follow.