A major scandal has erupted in Sarajevo after the arrest of the minor son of Minister of Culture for Sarajevo Canton, Kenan Magoda, on suspicion of involvement in a deliberate fire at a yacht manufacturing plant in Vitez. The incident has drawn widespread attention and raised concerns over organized crime networks operating under the radar. The fire broke out at the "Derubis Yachts" factory in Vitez on August 21, according to police confirmation. The blaze caused substantial material damage. Owners of the factory, basketball player Džanan Musa, a former NBA player currently based in Dubai, and Lejla Kraljević, have expressed belief that the fire was intentional. Kraljević told "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, who serves as a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) of Bosnia and Herzegovina, confirmed that one of the arrested individuals was his son. He stated he expects the investigation to fully uncover the circumstances and that he will demand the strictest legal consequences if his son is found responsible. According to reports from "Istraga.ba," one of the detained individuals admitted to having been hired by a local resident, Almedin Ćato, known for employing minors in underground activities. Ćato, with a long police record, is believed to have orchestrated the arson. However, the exact motivations behind the fire remain unclear. This scandal comes at a sensitive time, just before the start of the campaign period leading up to elections scheduled for October 4. The Party of Democratic Action (SDA), which is part of the ruling coalition, is using this incident to discredit the political elites that form the so-called "trio" currently in power at all levels of government. Critics have pointed fingers at the current administration, but some close to the ruling structures have also voiced concerns. Oscar director Danis Tanović, co-founder of the National Alliance (NS) and a member of the ruling coalition alongside the SDP and the People's Party (NiP), criticized the state of affairs in the Ministry of Culture, which is run by Magoda at the cantonal level. He claimed that the situation in culture has never been worse. Tanović urged colleagues in the cultural sector to exert pressure, to know in advance who will be appointed minister of culture, and to support the party if their name aligns with their preferences. He argued that such actions could bring about meaningful change. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, there is no national ministry of culture, while at the level of the Federation, ministers have been selected 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 that party.
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