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Calendar Updated: March 4, 2017
MDTF Activities > ANALYSIS OF ARREARS OF PUBLIC PROSECUTORS OFFICES IN SERBIA

ANALYSIS OF ARREARS OF PUBLIC PROSECUTORS OFFICES IN SERBIA

 

The MDTF JSS expert team prepared Analysis of Arrears of Public Prosecutors Offices in Serbia as a follow up analytic work. The Analysis on Budget Estimates for the Operation of the State Prosecutorial Council and Public Prosecutors Offices prepared by the MDTF JSS in late 2016 identified need for detailed Analysis of Arrears of Public Prosecutors Offices. Prior to 2013 the Public Prosecutor Offices did not show any arrears. Changes of the criminal procedure legislation in October 2013 resulted in a sudden explosion of arrears during 2014, 2015 and 2016.

The growth in arrears has a direct negative impact on service delivery. The number off lawyers and expert witnesses refuse to work unless they are paid in advance causing delays and adjournments in the scheduling of hearings. 

The Analysis was prepared on a sample of five Public Prosecutor Offices: Higher Public Prosecutor Office in Belgrade, Higher Public Prosecutor Office in Valjevo, Basic Public Prosecutor Office in Smederevo, Basic Public Prosecutor Office in Prokuplje and Basic Prosecutor Office in Novi Sad. The primary focus of the analysis was to address the two key sources of arrears accumulation – investigation and postal related expenditure.

The Analysis is focused on several areas: budgetary status and the overall financial management practice in sample Public Prosecutor Offices, the expenditure levels for investigations and postal services across the sample, the process of expenditure verification and assumption of financial commitments, the accounting and reporting practice around these commitments, process of arrears management and reporting and enforced collection volumes and associated expenditures. The Analysis identified substantial differences in the process of commitment assumption regarding investigation expenditure. Apart from the lack of clarity and guidance in expenditure verification and improper financial management IT infrastructure in place, this reflect heavily on the observed levels and the differences in levels of arrears across the PPOs. Another important finding of our analysis is that the investigation related expenditure levels per case vary significantly across PPOs. The recommendations are formulated to increase transparency, protect integrity and increase financial and overall performance of Serbian PPOs.

Main findings and recommendations from the Analysis were presented on March 2, 2017 to the members of the State Prosecutorial Council (SPC), representatives of the Republic Public Prosecutor Office, SPC Administrative office staff and budget staff from the Public Prosecutor Offices that were included in the sample. The Analysis will support the SPC in the future budget planning and budget management.

The report in English you could find here and translation in Serbian here.