Marina Pendeš

Marina Pendeš (born 20 August 1964) is a Bosnia and Herzegovina politician who currently serves as Minister of Defence.

Early life and education

Pendeš was born in Travnik on 20 August 1964. She attended elementary school in Bila, Vitez and high school in Travnik. She graduated in electrical engineering from the Military Technical Academy in Zagreb in 1988 after receiving a scholarship from the Yugoslav National Army.

Career

Pendeš was an independent constructor in the military industry in Travnik from 1988 until 1992, and head of the department of TKC SB in Vitez from 1995 until 2003. She was a member of the Croatian Defence Council and worked in the Military Intelligence Service in Central Bosnia during the Bosnian War.

Pendeš is a member of the Croation Democratic Union (HDZ) and was first elected to parliament in 2000. She was Minister of Physical Planning, Restructuring and Return for ŽSB from 2003–2004. She was a Deputy Minister of Defence from 2004–2015 before being appointed Minister of Defence on 31 March 2015.

In July 2015, Pendeš was charged by the State Prosecutor's Office for paying a salary to her advisor Ivo Miro Jović while she was Deputy Minister, despite him not showing up to work. In February 2016, she was acquitted by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina of the charges of careless performance of official duties and forging documents.