OFAC targets ‘brazenly corrupt’ Bosnian state prosecutor
The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (‘OFAC’) has designated Diana Kajmakovic, a state prosecutor in Bosnia and Herzegovina (‘BiH’), for being ‘responsible for or complicit in corruption or the undermining of democratic processes or institutions in the Western Balkans.’ OFAC said that the action ‘furthers the United States’ strategy to hold accountable those who carry out destabilizing activity in the Western Balkans’ and that such activities ‘occur against the backdrop of BiH’s most serious political crisis since 1995, as ethno-nationalist politicians and affiliated patronage networks continue to undermine the country.’
OFAC explained that the work of the BiH State Prosecutor’s Office ‘requires that prosecutors perform their duties without favor, bias, or prejudice,’ but that, ‘Despite these obligations to avoid prosecutorial malfeasance, Diana Kajmakovic is a brazenly corrupt BiH state prosecutor with links to criminal organizations.’
OFAC said that ‘[A]s part of a larger crackdown on organized crime and narcotics trafficking in BiH, investigators analyzed private conversations conducted via encrypted messaging applications,’ and that ‘criminals in these encrypted conversations mentioned Kajmakovic, who worked on some of the investigations concerning this activity. In support of narcotics traffickers and other criminals, Kajmakovic helped hide evidence, prevent prosecution, and otherwise assist criminal activity in exchange for personal gain. She also attempted to block an investigation into her apparent criminal affiliates.’
Sanctions reissue
In a related development, OFAC says that it is ‘reissuing in their entirety’ the Western Balkans Stabilization Regulations, 31 CFR 588,’ as well as the Central African Republic Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 553.
The re-issued regulations ‘include additional interpretive guidance and definitions, general licenses, and other regulatory provisions that will provide further guidance to the public.’
https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20220926_33
