An award-winning investigation from Bosnia and Herzegovina exposes institutional failures, emotional struggles, and a journalists’ relentless pursuit of answers
When the story of a missing newborn first reached the Center for Investigative Journalism (CIN) in BiH, journalists Jelena Jevtić and Mubarek Asani did not realise the emotional and institutional challenges that lay ahead. Their award-winning documentary Where is Sara exposes the disappearance of baby Sara at the University Clinical Center in Banja Luka, revealing a case riddled with unanswered questions, bureaucracy, and alleged cover-ups.
A Traumatic Beginning
At first, the team was unsure whether they could make any progress. The story reached CIN when the mother of the missing child, after exhausting legal avenues, contacted a friend of Jelena’s, who recommended the newsroom. The initial phone call was harrowing, full of emotion and trauma.
The first meeting with the parents, Aleksandra and Miloš, was a turning point. Their energy and determination inspired the journalists to commit fully to the investigation. From that moment, CIN’s team dedicated themselves to uncovering what had happened to Sara.
Facing Obstruction and Bureaucracy
The investigation relied heavily on documents the mother had painstakingly gathered. But even with this evidence, the journalists faced extraordinary obstruction. Authorities refused meetings, avoided cameras, and offered implausible explanations.
Asani recalls the challenges of locating Nataša, the mother of the second missing child, who was potentially buried in a grave linked to Sara. Initially hesitant to revisit a traumatic experience, Nataša eventually agreed to cooperate after being confronted with evidence. Her participation forced authorities to allow a second exhumation, revealing inconsistencies in the official account.
“The exhumation showed that the authorities were lying,” Asani said.
Despite these efforts, the Prosecutor’s Office has yet to answer the central question: where is Sara? Investigators reopened the case following the documentary, but Asani remains skeptical, noting that even after DNA analyses and hundreds of interviews, the authorities have not pursued the case further.
The Emotional Toll
The human cost of this investigation was immense. Preparing and conducting the interviews required days of work, and the team had to navigate the parents’ intense emotional distress.
“We needed a psychologist every night. For the first time in our careers, we were completely drained,” Asani recalls.
He describes how the team grew close to the family, forming a bond that continues even after the documentary’s release.
“This case turned us into part of their family. I cannot simply finish the story and walk away, it has become part of my life,” he said.
Public Response and Empathy
When the documentary aired, the public’s response was overwhelming.
Viewers from all backgrounds expressed empathy and support, leaving thousands of messages on social media. Asani was struck by the unity and dignity of the public reaction.
“People forgot their divisions – ethnic, religious, political. They came together to support the parents. I have never seen anything like it in my career,” he adds.
A Commitment to Continue
The case has become a personal mission for Asani. He is determined to pursue answers despite systemic obstacles and a lack of institutional support.
“My life’s success will be if I find Sara. I am truly consumed by this question,” he said.
He stresses that the parents, Aleksandra and Miloš, continue to face mental health challenges and lack support from the state. Even after releasing the documentary, efforts to register a citizens’ association to support families like theirs were obstructed.
“All these elements leave us with no choice but to continue the investigation,” he said.
“Where Is Sara” demonstrates the power of investigative journalism to confront institutional failure, expose injustice, and amplify the voices of those most affected. For Mubarek Asani and his team, the work is far from over. The question of Sara’s fate remains, and with it, a mission that has become both professional and deeply personal.
Learn more in the video below.
