Over the past two years, in the extensive investigation conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina and SIPA, thousands pieces of material evidence were collected and more than 130 witnesses were interviewed, including representatives of the academic community, and special investigative actions were carried out, with direct engagement of the representatives of police structures in exposing illegal sale and issuance of diplomas.

According to the collected evidence, at least forty-nine (49) higher education diplomas have been issued, the annulment of which will be sought in the course of the procedure provided for by law. The Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina and SIPA have collected evidence indicating that persons who illegally bought diplomas participated to a very small extent in the process of education at higher education institutions, or did not participate at all, and to purchase of illegal diplomas they usually paid amounts of several thousand euros.

With the commission of those criminal offences, great damage was caused to the system of higher education in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and all the citizens were endangered by the work and activities of persons with illegally obtained university degrees. As part of the proceedings, the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina will request that the accused persons be banned from performing their duties at higher education institutions.

The accused legal persons, i.e. private universities, operated in the areas of Banja Luka, Mostar and Brčko District, respectively.

These accused persons are charged with the criminal offences of Conspiracy to Perpetrate a Criminal Offence, Abuse of Office or Official Authority, Illicit Trade, Forging of Official Document, and other related offences.

The prosecution team will prove the responsibility of the accused persons by calling about seventy (70) witnesses and eight (8) expert witnesses, as well as by submitting more than 3,000 pieces of material evidence, including files and student and university documentation.

The accused persons are as follows:

1.     Zoran Kalinić, born in 1954 in Banja Luka, a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who was employed as a Rector at the Independent University of Banja Luka, and is subject to prohibiting measures imposed by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

2.     Dragan Ilić, born in 1984 in Banja Luka, a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Serbia, who was a co-owner of the Prometej (Prometheus) College of Applied and Legal Sciences of Banja Luka, and is currently subject to prohibiting measures issued by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

3.     Vladimir Stojanović, born in 1965 in Belgrade, who was employed as an Acting Rector at the CKM University of Modern Sciences of Mostar, and a Director at the Union College of Mostar, and is subject to prohibiting measures issued by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

4.     Dragan Đuranović, born in 1966 in Doboj, a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who  was employed as a Rector at the PIM University of Business Engineering and Management of Banja Luka,

5.     Denis Pračić, born in 1967 in Bosanska Gradiška, a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who was employed as a manager at the Union College of Mostar and at the University of Modern Sciences of Mostar, and is subject to prohibiting measures issued by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

6.     Mirko Tufegdžija, born in 1962 in Bosanska Dubica, who is employed under a contract of employment at the PIM University of Banja Luka, and is subject to prohibiting measures issued by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

7.     Ljubiša Todorović, born in 1981 in Bijeljina, a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who was employed at the Prometej (Prometheus) College of Banja Luka and CKM University of Mostar, and is subject to prohibiting measures issued by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

8.     Dragan Golijan, born in 1953 in Rečice, a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who was a professor at the Victoria International University of Mostar, a legal successor of the CKM University of Modern Sciences of Mostar,

9.     Vaso Pajić, born in 1944 in Bijeljina, a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who is subject to prohibiting measures issued by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

10.  Vojislav Škrbić, born in 1946 in Drvar, a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who is a professor emeritus at the PIM University of Banja Luka, and is subject to prohibiting measures issued by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

11.  Goran Lalović, born in 1968 in Sarajevo, a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Serbia, who is subject to prohibiting measures issued by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

12.  Dušan Perić, born in 1964 in Brčko, a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who was employed under a representation contract with the NUBL Independent University of Banja Luka, and is subject to prohibiting measures issued by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

13.  Senad Sinanović, born in 1952 in Orašje, a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

14.  Ljubinko Dobraš, born in 1963 in Banja Luka, a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

15.  Miodrag Tepić, born in 1967 in Derventa, a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

16.  NUBL Independent University of Political and Social Sciences of Banja Luka, with its seat in Banja Luka,

17.  Prometej (Prometheus) College of Applied and Legal Sciences of Banja Luka, with its seat in Banja Luka,

18.  PIM University of Business Engineering and Management of Banja Luka, with its seat in Banja Luka, business unit: PIM University in Brčko District,

19.  Victoria International University of Mostar, the legal successor of the CKM University of Modern Sciences of Mostar, with its seat in Mostar,

20.  Union College of Mostar, with its seat in Mostar,

21.  International University of Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with its seat in Brčko.