“SNSD Member in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, Milorad Kojić, stated that the presiding judge in the case against the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, before the BiH Court has preconceived the decision of the Extraordinary Chamber. He believes that even the appeal by Dodik’s lawyer to transfer the case to Banja Luka will be rejected.
Kojić thinks that the main hearing in the case against President Dodik and the acting director of the ‘Official Gazette,’ Miloš Lukić, before the BiH Court should not have been scheduled, given their defense’s request for the trial to be transferred to the Basic or District Court in Banja Luka.
‘However, evidently, they disregarded the decision they made and granted the defense the right to appeal. Despite the decision not being final, they scheduled the main hearing,’ said Kojić, regarding the adjournment of the hearing this week in the case against Dodik and Lukić.
Kojić stated that the presiding judge in the case against Dodik and Lukić has already prejudged the decision of the Extraordinary Chamber of the BiH Court, anticipating the rejection of Dodik’s lawyer’s request even upon appeal.
He noted that this significantly indicates that the presiding judge believes the process must be held before the BiH Court, although they don’t have the authority to decide on it.
‘This sends us a different kind of message. Obviously, there are certain winds blowing within the Court, as it’s already widely known within the Court what the decision on Dodik’s appeal to transfer the case to Banja Luka will be,’ said Kojić.
He pointed out that this demonstrates the lack of objectivity and unprofessionalism within the judiciary.
‘But what else can we expect from something that’s unconstitutional?’ he questioned.
Commenting on the fact that the Court’s schedule shows a trial for Dodik on December 20, Kojić said that the BiH Court should not have a trial scheduled for Dodik on December 20 already, as this schedule also precludes the likelihood of the appeal for the case transfer.
‘Therefore, the moment the decision is made on the appeal, if the appeal is rejected, only then can the calendar for the next main hearings be established, not now, as setting the main hearings already prejudges the substantial rejection of the appeal,’ added Kojić.”
Source: RTRS
