The son of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Minister of Culture for the Sarajevo Canton, Kenan Magoda, has been detained by police under suspicion of participating in a deliberate fire at a yacht factory in Vitez earlier this week. The incident, which has sparked public outrage, is being linked to organized crime. Magoda, who is also a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has publicly condemned the actions and vowed to ensure that those responsible face the full consequences of their actions. The fire broke out at the “Derubis Yachts” factory in Vitez on August 21, according to police confirmation. The blaze caused substantial material damage. The owners of the factory, basketball player Džanan Musa, a former NBA player based in Dubai, and Lejla Kraljević, have expressed belief that the fire was intentional. Kraljević told media outlet Dnevni Avaz that the fire was definitely set, though she did not comment on motives or suspects. A swift investigation conducted by the police led to the identification of four individuals suspected of involvement, two of whom were minors. On social media, Magoda confirmed that one of the suspects was his son and expressed confidence that the investigation would fully uncover what happened and hold those responsible accountable. He stated, “If the information released today proves accurate and if responsibility for my child is established, I will demand the strictest legal consequences.” According to reports from Istraža.ba, one of the detained individuals admitted to having hired Stanislav Almedin Ćato, a resident of Sarajevo with a long police record, to organize the arson. Ćato is reportedly known for employing minors in underground activities. However, the motivations behind the fire remain unclear. This scandal involving Magoda and his party comes at a sensitive time, just before the start of the campaign period for elections scheduled for October 4. The Party of Democratic Action (SDA), which is part of the ruling coalition, has used every opportunity to discredit the political elites that make up the so-called “trio” currently in power at all levels of government. Critics have pointed to the poor state of cultural affairs under Magoda's leadership, particularly within the Sarajevo Canton. Notably, some figures close to the ruling structures have also voiced criticism. Danis Tanović, a film director and co-founder of the NS (Our Party), which is currently part of the governing coalition alongside the SDP and the People’s Party for Justice (NiP), described the situation in culture, under Magoda’s oversight, as worse than ever. Tanović urged colleagues in the field to exert pressure and support candidates aligned with their values, suggesting that such collective action could lead to meaningful change. At the national level, Bosnia and Herzegovina does not have a Ministry of Culture, while at the Federation level, ministers have been appointed by the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HDZ BiH) for years. Currently, the role of minister is held by Sanja Vlaisavljević, a representative of the HDZ BiH.
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