Dragan Čović

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Dragan Čović

Born August 20, 1956 (1956-08-20) (age 51)
Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Dragan Čović (Born August 20, 1956) is a Croat politician from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Čović is the leader of the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Currently Čović is under indictment from the State Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina for misuse of office.

[edit] Career

Čović worked for the airplane manufacturing company SOKO for more than twenty years. Between 1998 and 2001 he was the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On October 5, 2002 Čović was elected to the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, representing the nation's Croats. He was removed from office on March 29, 2005 by a decision of the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Paddy Ashdown after he was indicted by the State Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina for financial malfeasance and misuse of office. The Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina replaced him with Ivo Miro Jović.

[edit] Legal trouble

The Court charged that Čović used his position of Finance Minister to help Mladen Ivanković-Lijanović and his brothers (who own a meat processing company) to avoid paying income and customs taxes in excess of 40 million KM. Čović who has masters in economics has been known as one of the most corrupt officials coming from Mostar and one of the reason for HDZ party split in 2006 was Ljubić's accusations that corruption charges stemming from Covic's case are hurting the party. Božo Ljubić later formed HDZ 1990 which he claims is the original party representing of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On November 17, 2006, Dragan Čović was sentenced to 5 years in prison. However an appeal squashed the conviction and a new trial will be held. Ironically the successful appeal has resulted in new corruption allegations, this time it is alleged that Čović bribed the court.

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