By: Domen Mezeg / Nova24tv
The video of the candidate for the upcoming elections Robert Golob from 2009, in addition to revealing the share agreements (15 percent), reveals another extremely controversial deal: as the head of the Slovenian energy giant IGES (Istrabenz Gorenje energy systems), Golob bought a stake in the bankrupt company Intrade energy Ltd Sarajevo, of Bosnian lobbyist Spahalić, worth 15 million euros. According to experts, this was to the detriment of Istrabenz and its shareholders for Golob’s private interests.
In recent days, the spirits of the alleged illegal commissions of the electro oligarch Robert Golob have been stirring. It is about energy projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which were discussed in a video that was published on Planet TV after 13 years. If his major appetites failed (participation in the construction of major hydroelectric power plants on the Neretva), he was involved in some smaller projects of this kind, which were successfully implemented. Commissions are said to be a regular practice in this country, and Golob’s business there is also nothing special. Luka Perš, a journalist from the Prava.si portal, also said a few interesting words about his business practices: “He spoke to acquaintances from Nova Gorica. They said that Golob would not get even five percent in Nova Gorica, so he fled to Ljubljana. As well as the fact that Robi is known for his sticky fingers.”
Planet TV presented to the public a clip from 2009, which briefly appeared on the website of the Dnevni Avaz newspaper, and then disappeared from servers for more than a decade. There was talk of the division of commissions or ownership shares in the 3 million projects for the construction of hydroelectric power plants on the Neretva River. In the video, Nihad Spahalić, Golob’s man, talks to Safet Oručević, a former member of parliament and mayor of Mostar, about commissions and ownership shares in the construction of two hydroelectric power plants on the Neretva. The affair, which in Bosnia was called the “energy mafia”, was one of the most resounding there, but in Slovenia it did not attract much interest. It is now known why since a member of the Slovenian left elite is involved.
The key information in the affair is the “15%” intended for Golob. It is also interesting to note that this was an arbitrary activity of Golob, like that later in Gen-I. It is also known that Golob oversaw Istrabenz or IGES (Istrabenz Gorenje energy systems) at that time as President of the Management Board. The company in BiH that led the project was 51% owned by IGES. And when the project failed, the Bosnian company was worthless, but Spahalić still managed to sell his stake (just before the decline) to Istrabenz for a whopping 15 million euros. It is not yet known what exactly the Slovenian company gained from this purchase, but according to experts, the shareholders were harmed, which the entire Slovenian public should have known before the elections.
There is nothing free in business: What did Golob receive for the purchase of a stake in the bankrupt company in the amount of 15 million euros?
How did Spahalić repay his friend for such a huge favour? For what commissions for other projects? There is probably nothing free in business, which is obvious with Golob. Let us recall his extraordinary earnings in 2020, when he violated Lahovnik’s law with his astronomical salary of 45 thousand. Otherwise, he is still concealing data on earnings from the income tax decision, while some other prominent politicians have revealed it. What is he concealing if he has a clear conscience?