MOTION FOR REMAND IN CUSTODY FOR FOUR CUSTOMS OFFICERS AND IMPOSURE OF PROHIBITING MEASURES FOR ELEVEN PERSONS SUSPECTED OF CORRUPTION OFFENSES FILED

A Prosecutor of the Special Department for Organized Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption  within the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH filed a motion to the Court of BiH for remand in custody of four persons suspected of committing criminal offenses of Associating for the Purpose of Perpetrating Criminal Offenses (Article 249 of the CC BiH), Abuse of Office or Authority (Article 220 of the CC BiH), Accepting  Gifts and Other Forms of Benefits (Article 217 of the CC BiH), and the criminal offense of Smuggling of Goods (Article 214 of the CC BiH).

Motion for remand in custody was filed for the following suspects: V.S., Z.L., M.K. and D.B. employees of the BiH Indirect Taxation Authority, in the Sarajevo Airport Customs Office.

The suspects were deprived of liberty by the authorized officers of the BiH Border Police Officers in the morning hours of June 2,  2014 at several locations i.e. in Sarajevo, Kiseljak and Pale, pursuant to the order of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH and within the operation codenamed ’ Gold ’.

It is the ability and professionalism of the investigators of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH and police officers who took part in this investigation that led to well documented proof of the aforementioned offenses and video recordings, made in accordance with the law, of the suspected customs officers - employed at the Sarajevo Airport Customs Office - accepting and giving bribes.

The Prosecutor’s Office of BiH proposed the Court of BiH to remand the suspects in custody for one month for reasons specified in Article 132, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph a) of the CPC BiH i.e. due to risk of flight (for the suspect D.B.) and for reasons specified in Article 132, Paragraph 1, Subparagraphs b) and c) of the CPC BiH i.e. justified fear that the suspects would destroy or conceal evidence or clues important to the criminal proceeding; particular circumstances indicating that the suspects would hinder the investigation by influencing witnesses and accomplices; and grounded suspicion that the suspects, if released, could repeat any of the criminal offenses they have been charged with.

During the questioning most of the other suspects, faced with strong evidence collected by police and prosecution, admitted their involvement in the committed criminal offenses.

Following the questioning of all suspects the Assigned Prosecutor of the Special Department for Organized Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption will file a motion to the Court of BiH to impose prohibiting measures for eleven suspects, which provide for the house arrest, ban on meeting with the suspects in the case, as well as periodic reporting to the competent police station.

Motion for imposure of prohibiting measures will be submitted to the Court of BiH.