CUSTODY MOTION FILED FOR THE THREE SUSPECTS IN OPERATION ‘BOSPHORUS‘ COMBATING SMUGGLING OF ILLEGAL MIGRANTS

Having questioned the suspects the Assigned Prosecutor filed a motion for remand in custody of:

KANI Kadir, born in 1987 in Bayburt, Republic of Turkey,

-    KARA Mustafa, born in 1951 in Karas, Republic of Turkey and

-    VIDIĆ Valentin, born in 1991, from Čapljina.

Remand in custody for the suspects has been requested on grounds prescribed in Article 132 (1) (a), b) and c) of the CPC BiH i.e. due to: risk  of flight; risk that the persons in question, if released, could destroy, hide, alter or falsify evidence or clues important to the criminal proceedings; risk that the persons might hinder the investigation by influencing witnesses, accessories or aiders; risk that, if released, the suspects might continue perpetrating these and other criminal offenses or complete the criminal offences of which they are suspected as well as that they might commit another criminal offense.

During the course of the operation that was carried out by the Prosecutor‘s Office of BiH with partner law enforcement and security agencies,  and in cooperation with colleagues from the Republic of Croatia and Turkey, evidence was collected  that the suspects organized illegal transport of dozens of illegal immigrants, mostly citizens of the Republic of Turkey of both sexes and various ages,  for large amounts of money, which ranged up to several thousand euros, and smuggled them through Montenegro, BiH and Croatia into the countries of Western Europe.

The suspects are under investigation on suspicion of having committed the criminal offense of Organizing a Group or Association for Perpetration of a criminal offense ‘Smuggling of Migrants‘ referred to in Article 189a (2) in conjunction with the criminal offense of Smuggling of Persons under Article 189 (1) and (2) of the CC BiH.

Motion for order of prohibitive measures will be filed for one person.

Motion for remand in custody was forwarded to the Court of BiH and the investigation continues intensively.