Operation "Lipstick": Three people arrested in Sarajevo for inciting prostitution

Police officers of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) this morning (27.10.2015), in the operational action "Lipstick", arrested three people in the wider Sarajevo area and searched premises at three locations, reports the Patria News Agency.

The mentioned activities were carried out by order of the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo and the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office of Sarajevo Canton, in cooperation with police officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Sarajevo Canton. The operation is the result of a multi-month investigation conducted by SIPA investigators under the supervision of the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office.

The arrested individuals are identified as S.K. (1984), O.N. (1978), and M.Š. (1989) due to grounds for suspicion that they committed the criminal offense of organized crime, in connection with the criminal offense of inciting prostitution and the criminal offense of money laundering under the Criminal Code of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The mentioned individuals are suspected of participating in the organization or management of activities related to the provision of sexual services in the Sarajevo Canton area and beyond, by establishing contact with clients and mediating agreements for the provision of sexual services, and then transporting individuals providing sexual services to the agreed location and picking them up. The primary suspect charged 50% of the agreed amount for these services, thereby acquiring significant illegal property gain.

During the search, items that could serve as evidence in further proceedings were found and temporarily confiscated, including: mobile phones, SIM cards, a certain amount of money, two firearms with ammunition, and other items.

The arrested individuals have been taken to SIPA's official premises where they are undergoing criminal processing, after which they will be handed over to the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office of Sarajevo Canton for further proceedings, along with a report on the grounds for suspicion of the committed criminal offense and perpetrators.