SARAJEVO: The case of a popular actor convicted of sexually assaulting a child but allowed to buy out his prison sentence has shocked Bosnia.

Montenegro-born Moamer Kasumovic became a regional star in the Balkans over his leading role in the popular television sitcom "Crazy, Confused, Normal" but has become embroiled in a scandal after his crime recently came to light.

Convicted originally in 2022 of sexually abusing a 14-year-old, Kasumovic was able to pay a fine of 36,500 marks (US$20,000) to avoid serving his one-year prison sentence.

Kasumovic's crime came to light during a discussion with the audience after a play about peer violence that was performed last week at the national theatre in Sarajevo.

A young man from the audience accused Kasumovic, who now lives in Montenegro, of sexually abusing him when he was a minor.

He also revealed that the actor previously had been convicted by a Sarajevo court after being sued by another victim who was 14 years old at the time of the sexual assault.

That sparked anger that Kasumovic's trial had been "swept under the carpet" and hidden from the public, the Vecernji List daily newspaper said on Tuesday. Despite his conviction, confirmed in 2023 following an appeal, Kasumovic was able to continue working.

"I'm completely shocked, like all of my colleagues, and I cannot believe this," screenwriter Elma Tataragic, who has worked with Kasumovic, told the N1 regional broadcaster.

"I'm disappointed with a system in which... such a punishment can be bought out without any additional measures, in a situation in which children, minors, are endangered."

In Bosnia, a country divided along ethnic lines, it is possible to buy-out a sentence of no more than 12 months in the Croat-Muslim region, regardless of the crime.

However, in the Serb-run area, it is not possible for certain crimes such as the sexual assault of a child and terrorism.

The Sarajevo court originally did not comment on Kasumovic's case but on Friday it confirmed his sentence under pressure from local media.

Local authorities have announced amendments to the penal code to end the sentence loophole, and to create a register of sex offenders.

 - AFP