The Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and HerzegovinaNews
MOTION FOR REMAND IN CUSTODY FILED FOR FOUR SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN POLICE OPERATION "PELEGRINO"
28.02.2014. 15:33Prosecutor of Department III within the Prosecutor's Office of BiH filed a motion to the Court of BiH for remand in custody of four persons suspected of the criminal offense of Organized Crime under Article 250 of the CC BiH; the criminal offense of Abuse of Office or Authority under Article 220 of the CC BiH and the criminal offense of Extortion under Article 295 of the CC FBiH.
The suspects for whom the remand in custody was requested were deprived of liberty on February 26, 2014 by authorized officers of the State Investigation and Protection Agency - SIPA and handed over to the Prosecutor's Office of BiH within the legal deadline.
A thorough investigation was carried out in this case and it resulted with uncovery of very sophisticated forms of corruption and abuse of office.
The Prosecutor’s Office of BiH shall initiate a financial investigation into this matter to identify the total of proceeds of crime in order to allow for forfeiture of all ill-gotten profits and assets.
The Prosecutor's Office of BiH continues its investigation in the present case in the aim to uncover all those involved in these illegal activities of international character, as it concerns extortion of foreign nationals, mostly Italian nationals residing and working in the area and Herzegovina and Međugorje.
At the request of the Service for Foreigners' Affairs, the Prosecutor's Office of BiH shall submit the documentation requested for the purpose of initiating suspension procedures for the suspects who are occupying certain positions in the Service for Foreigners' Affairs of BiH.
Following the questioning of the suspects, the Assigned Prosecutor filed a motion to the Court of BiH for remand in custody on grounds stipulated in Article 132 Paragraph 1, subparagraphs a), b) and c) of the CPC BiH.
Remand in custody was requested due to the risk that the suspects might flee, as well as the risk that the suspects might hinder the investigation by influencing witnesses and accomplices, and the risk that they might repeat the same criminal offense they are charged with.
Motion for remand in custody was filed to the Court of BiH and the Prosecutor's Office of BiH continues its investigation into this matter with the aim to indict.
The Prosecutor's Office of BiH, together with police agencies and law enforcement agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region, continues with decisive activities on detection and prosecution of corruption offenses and confiscation of proceeds of crime.
*Note on the principle of presumption of innocence
This announcement does not prejudice the outcome of the criminal proceedings and does not violate the principle of the presumption of innocence. A person shall be considered innocent of a crime until guilt has been established by a final verdict (Article 3, paragraph 1 of the CPC BiH).
This announcement does not prejudice the outcome of the criminal proceedings and does not violate the principle of the presumption of innocence. A person shall be considered innocent of a crime until guilt has been established by a final verdict (Article 3, paragraph 1 of the CPC BiH).
