SPIN INFO REVEALS: Wife of Mayor Jovan Katić Becomes Co-Owner of a 3,000-Square-Meter Construction Site in Istočno Novo Sarajevo
3 min read
Nadežda Katić is a co-owner of a company that owns a construction site in the Municipality of Istočno Novo Sarajevo, which is headed by her husband, Jovan Katić. A commercial building is being constructed on the land. The company was established just a few months ago. Mayor Katić has not responded to phone calls.
Written by: Sanja Vasković
Cover photo: SPIN Info illustration
In the Lukavica neighborhood of the Municipality of Istočno Novo Sarajevo, surrounded by land owned by the Student Center and the Municipality, there is also a privately owned plot measuring 3,079 square meters.
The plot is designated as a construction site.
And indeed, a substantial building has been under construction at this location for quite some time.
Construction began at approximately the same time as work on the swimming pool a few hundred meters downhill, which is being financed by the Municipality of Istočno Novo Sarajevo.
The pool, which has yet to open, has cost taxpayers four million convertible marks (BAM) in borrowed funds. This amount covers construction work only.
But let us return to the aforementioned plot of land.
According to official records, the land is owned by InVent ND, a company based in Istočno Novo Sarajevo.
The company was established only recently, in April of this year, to be precise.
It was founded by Danilo Veljo and Nadežda Katić, the wife of Jovan Katić, the current head of the Municipality of Istočno Novo Sarajevo.
His wife also serves as the company’s director.
The share capital paid in to establish the company amounts to 8,000 BAM, with each founder contributing 4,000 BAM.
The data shows that the primary business activity of InVent ND is related to restaurant services and food delivery.
According to information obtained by SPIN Info, the building is intended to serve as a wedding venue, offering catering and hospitality services.
Photo: SPIN Info, construction site
Interestingly, Danilo Veljo, also known as Nane, a co-owner of the company, is linked to the ownership of NANE d.o.o. Trnovo.
The same name also appears as a candidate for the DNS party in Trnovo in the 2020 elections.
This company also owns the “Aurora” business unit in Istočno Novo Sarajevo.
The “Aurora” wedding venue, also known as the Aurora motel, is located in the immediate vicinity of the swimming pool and the newly constructed building on the land owned by Danilo and Nadežda.
As for income, his wife declared only her salary
According to information submitted to the Central Election Commission (CEC) by Mayor Katić in August 2025, his spouse reported an annual salary income of approximately 20,000 BAM, as well as a loan of 55,000 BAM.
His wife also owns a 52-square-meter apartment in Serbia, valued at 300,000 BAM.
We also attempted to obtain a comment from Mayor Jovan Katić regarding his wife’s company, which co-owns land within the municipality he heads.
However, he did not respond to our calls or messages.
We also wanted to establish from whom his wife had purchased the aforementioned plot, given that it is surrounded by parcels owned by the Municipality and the Lukavica Public Student Center.
What does the law say about property owned by spouses?
The Family Law of Republika Srpska stipulates that property acquired by spouses through work during their marital union constitutes their joint property.
Legal experts contacted by SPIN Info explain that the name under which the property is formally registered in public records is not decisive. The fact that real estate is registered solely in the name of one spouse does not mean that the other spouse has no rights to it.
“Formal registration of ownership in the name of only one spouse does not, in itself, change the character of the property as joint marital property if it was acquired through work during the marriage. In the case of such property, the rights of both spouses arise from the law, rather than from whose name appears in the registration,” Banja Luka lawyer Din Tešić explained in an interview with SPIN Info journalists.
He also added that a spouse registered in public records as the owner of real estate that constitutes joint marital property may dispose of that property only with the consent of the other spouse
