THREE THOUSAND GERMAN MARKS TO RETURN TO OWN HOUSE IN SARAJEVO

SARAJEVO, Aug 16 (Hina) - The Interior Ministry of the Sarajevo County has initiated an investigation into corruption within local government bodies. Most often the victims of such corruption were returnees who were compelled to bribe municipal officials so that they could obtain documents relevant to the return of their property, the Sarajevo daily "Oslobeđnje" wrote on Monday. An official at the Office of the High Representative (OHR) David Stuart Howitt, confirmed that there had been several complaints lodged by returnees that they had to pay 3,000 German marks to municipal officials in order to obtain the necessary paper work. The OHR has already asked for the resignations of the head of the housing department in Sarajevo's four largest municipalities. The issue of corruption was brought to light by the head of the Sarajevo Housing Administration Aida Haznadaravic. Local authorities however, threatened her replacement however, this did not eventuate at the intervention of the OHR. The issue of corruption is being reported more often by returnees in their battle to obtain the paper work necessary to be able to purchase property and transferring it from public ownership. (hina) sp