Today, on 16 July 2007, the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina handed down the first instance verdict in the case of Semir Pružljanin, finding the Accused guilty of the continued criminal offence of Customs fraud and the criminal offence of Tax evasion, and sentencing him to two (2) years and six (6) months imprisonment.

In the pronouncement of the verdict, the Court stated, inter alia, that, on six separate occasions between 05.09.2006 and 15.12.2006, as owner and founder of the “Omerta” d.o.o. Sarajevo company, the Accused submitted to the Sarajevo Customs office false customs declarations relating to the importation of goods.  As a result, the company avoided payment of customs in the total amount of 53,237.28 KM, with the amount of unpaid duty exceeding 5,000.00 KM on each occasion.

Further, in the same capacity and during the same period, with the intention of avoiding the payment of taxes, the Accused did not record the actual taxable turnover following importation of goods to the value of  427,729.33 KM, and their sale, and thus avoided the payment of value added tax in the amount of  31.564,58 KM.

The Court has also rendered a decision pursuant to which the Accused’s custody is extended until the commencement of his imprisonment, or until the expiration of the pronounced sentence at the latest.  The time the Accused has been held in custody since 14.12.2006 will count towards the sentence.