Chronology of one abuse Purchase of the children playgrounds in the municipality of Prokuplje

14/10/2012 Toplica Centre for Democracy and Human Rights receiving the information that the municipality of Prokuplje paid about 80,000 € for the purchase of three plastic slides The representatives of Toplica Centre visiting sites where slides are placed.

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15/10/2012 According to the Law on Free Access to Information of Public Importance Toplica Centre for Democracy and Human Rights asked Municipality Prokuplje for complete documentation related to the purchase of children's playgrounds

01/11/2012 Municipality Prokuplje submit the required documentation After examining the obtained documentation it is found that: 1. High value public procurement was broken up into three low-value public procurements 2. Procurement subject was tailored to the particular bidder 3. Price of goods obtained was five times higher than the comparable market prices - the total value of contracts concluded was € 83,405

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19/11/2012 Toplica Center for Democracy and Human Rights submited to Prokuplje High Public Prosecutor Office criminal charges against Milan Arsović, Mayor of Prokuplje at the time of conclusion of the contracts, on reasonable suspicion of having committed the criminal offense of abuse of official position under Article 359, paragraph 3 of the Criminal Code

19/11/2012 Press release on the website of the Coalition for Civil Oversight of Public Finances and accompanying documentation Information on submitted criminal charges was published on Radio-Television Serbia (public service), internet portal Južne vesti (South news) and Alo daily.

24/12/2012 Prokuplje High Public Prosecutor Office ordered custody for up to 30 days to Former Mayor of Prokuplje Milan Arsović and owner of the company with which the contract was concluded (detention ended 17/01/2013) Information was published in daily newspapers: Blic, Alo, Večernje novosti and on the internet portal Južne vesti (South news)

31/05/2013 Prokuplje High Public Prosecutor Office indicts Milan Arsovic, Mayor of Prokuplje at the time of conclusion of the contracts, for the criminal offense of abuse of official position

12/06/2013 Press release and indictment published on the website of Coalition for Oversight of Public Finances Information was published on the internet portal Južne vesti (South news) and prominent anti-corruption portal Pištaljka (Whistle)

30/11/2013 The film, directed by British director The film, among other things talks about misuse in the procurement of children playgrounds in Prokuplje

27/03/2014 The High Court in Prokuplje issued the first instance verdict (K.br.32 / 13) sentencing Milan Arsovic to the term of imprisonment of 18 months and a fine of 150,000 dinars

01/04/2014 Press realise and the first instance verdict on the website of Coalition for Oversight of Public Finances All the leading print and electronic media published the realise

07/04 – 15/04/2014 Prokuplje High Public Prosecutor Office filed an appeal against the first instance verdict and proposes the term of imprisoment of 36 months The defense counsel of the accused Milan Arsović filed the complaint and proposed exemption from criminal liability

20/06/2014 The Court of Appeal in Nis reversed the first instance verdict on procedural grounds and the case was returned to the High Court in Prokuplje for retrial Judicial proceeding before the High Court in Prokuplje is in progress (K.br.32 / 2014)

Highlights The trust of citizens! Information about abuses were obtained from individuals who have confidence in our professionalism and objectivity.

Visiting the actual sites! Visiting the actual sites is the way to obtain the true and precise information. Access to documentation is just a basis for good research.

Good reputation and credibility in the media! The good reputation can be acquired by publishing accurate, verifiable, socially important information and information interesting for media as well as by developing cooperation with research-oriented journalists.

Cooperation with the independent anti-corruption institutions! The cooperation is realized on professional grounds and on the basis of mutual trust. It is based on comparative analyzes of specific research subjects.

Monitoring a proceeding of judicial institutions! Judges and prosecutors need to know that interested citizens are continuously monitoring their work on a particular cases and that they are ready to react to failures and abuses. This is accomplished by submitting a request for information on the progress of the case and trial monitoring.

Keeping the theme in the focus of the public! Dissemination of information through social networks and media in all phases of investigation and prosecution.

Coalition for Oversight of Public Finances www. nadzor.org.rs THANK YOU!