SARAJEVO, 21.06.2019. – The President of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) of BiH Milan Tegeltija said today that he will sue all media, journalists and politicians who claimed that he was involved in corruption.
During the pause of HJPC session Tegeltija said that no one is above the law, including himself, and that he is also subject to all the laws that apply in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He also said that even journalists aren’t above the law and that they have no right to violate the law and commit criminal offenses.
He announced the undertaking of extensive legal action and lawsuits against all journalists, media and politicians who, as he says, discredited him and made inaccurate claims about his alleged involvement in corruption.
As Tegeltija says, some media in Germany, who also reported on this case, will be sued as well. He also announced that he would file disciplinary complaints against all the people in the judiciary who had suggested to the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH that he should be treated as a suspect in so-called “Shoeing affair”, even though the proceeding was ongoing.
“They are judges and they were directly involved in the proceeding”, said Tegeltija.
He pointed out that this is an orchestrated attack on the judiciary and added that he believes the truth will soon see the light, announcing he will also file criminal charges against certain persons.
Tegeltija has also said that he will address the European Court of Human Rights about the public statements by a judge Faris Vehabovic who, in his opinion, has been involved in the proceedings in BiH.
He emphasized that he supports media freedom and that he will individualize lawsuits, adding that journalists have the right to criticize the judiciary.
“Please do not understand this as an attack on journalists profession. The protection of my rights refers to the overruling of what journalists have the right to do”, Tegeltija said.
As he says, all the people who claimed that he is corrupted will be sued for defamation.
Finally, Tegeltija said that he cannot establish that HJPC BiH is divided by its national composition, arguing that it is a democratic institution that decides by a majority of votes.