CUSTODY MOTION FILED FOR FIVE SUSPECTS IN THE INTERNATIONAL OPERATION "LOKA II"

Prosecutor of Department III within the Prosecutor's Office of BiH filed a motion to the Court of BiH to render five suspects, who are under investigation relating to the criminal offense of international smuggling of illegal immigrants, into custody.

The suspects, for which the Assigned Prosecutor requested custody, were deprived of liberty on December 4, 2012 in a joint international police operation codenamed "Loka II", which involved several police and law enforcement agency officers from both state and entity levels. Substantial cooperation with law enforcement and judicial agencies in neighboring countries, where a number suspects are located, was achieved in this case.

After questioning the suspects, the Assigned Prosecutor filed a motion to the Court of BiH to remand the following persons into custody for a period of 30 days:

Ereren Savas, born on July 22, 1974 in Unye, Republic of Turkey, residing in Sarajevo, with prior convictions, a citizen of the Republic of Turkey,

1. Elvir Šaran, born on April 1, 1975 in Tuzla, residing in Živinice, a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
2. Muharram Onel, born on September 12, 1975 in Gaziantep, Republic of Turkey, with temporary residence in Sarajevo, a citizen of the Republic of Turkey,
3. Predrag Đurđevic AKA "Drago", born on February 28, 1953 in Donji Vukšić in Brčko District, where he resides, a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and
4. Husnija Hrustić AKA "Hule", born on January 30, 1963 in Doboj, residing in Živinice, a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The prosecutor requested custody on grounds stipulated in Article 132, Paragraph 1, Subparagraphs a), b) and c) of the CPC BiH.

Custody was requested due to risk of flight, the risk that the suspects might hinder the investigation by influencing witnesses and accomplices, as well as the risk that they might repeat the criminal offense they are charged with.

The suspects are under investigation by the Prosecutor's Office of BiH for the criminal offense of Organized Crime under Article 250 in conjunction with the criminal offense of Smuggling of Persons under Article 189 of the Criminal Code of BiH.

Custody motion was submitted to the Court of BiH and the Prosecutor's Office continues its investigation in the matter aiming to proceed with indictment.

In line with the goal of European integration the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, along with police and law enforcement agencies in BiH and neighboring countries, undertakes intensive activities on detection, prevention, and criminal prosecution of persons engaged in illegal activities in the field of illegal migration.