Today, the Appellate Panel of Section II for Organised Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina rendered the final verdict in the case of Ferid Okić and Fevzi Vasi. Ferid Okić was found guilty of Organised crime (in conjunction with the following criminal offences: Illicit trafficking in narcotics drugs, Kidnapping, Robbery, and Illegal possession of weapons and explosives) and sentenced to a compound long term imprisonment sentence of 26 years. Fevzi Vasi was found guilty of Organised crime (in conjunction with Illicit trafficking in narcotics) and received 1 year imprisonment sentence.

According to the pronounced verdict, the Appellate Panel found, inter alia, the following:

At the beginning of February 2003, Ferid Okić purchased a large quanity of the drug “ecstasy” in the Netherlands, which he transferred to Tuzla.  Sead Akeljić transported the ecstasy wrapped in plastic bottles and hidden in his car’s gas tank to Istanbul, Turkey, where Fevzi Vasi was waiting for him.  Sead Akeljić and Fevzi Vasi handed this car over to buyers known to Ferid Okić

Ferid Okić was also found guilty of organising in February 2003 the kidnapping of two individuals with the intension of extorting money or other material gain from them or their families.

The verdict also states that, on 16 September 2003, together with other individuals, Okić robbed the Union bank in Tuzla, getting away with moneys to the value of KM 296,460.00.

Ferid Okić and Fevzi Vasi were acquitted of the charge of committing Organised crime in conjunction with Illicit trafficking in narcotics in January 2003.

The time Ferid Okić has been held in custody since 25 May 2005 (as well as an earlier period from 8 December 2001 until 14 November 2002) will count towards the sentence.  Also, the period Fevzi Vasi spent in custody between 27 May and 8 October 2003 will count towards his sentence.