Anonymous Report: Goran Bregović Under Investigation in BiH for Tax Evasion?

Goran Bregović, former frontman of the popular music group Bijelo dugme, is in the crosshairs of investigative authorities in BiH on suspicion of carrying out illegal transfers of multi-million amounts of money into BiH from other countries, reports the Patria news agency.

The operations of Bregović's companies and suspicious money transfers are being investigated by several police agencies in BiH based on an anonymous complaint alleging that the popular Brega avoids paying taxes through money transfers between companies he owns.

The Center for Public Security Sarajevo told Press that they received an anonymous letter at the end of July this year stating that Goran Bregović carried out an illegal transfer of money into BiH from other countries.

"The duty prosecutor of the District Prosecutor's Office East Sarajevo has been informed about this, and all measures and actions will be taken under their supervision," states the response from CJB East Sarajevo.

According to claims from a source close to the police in East Sarajevo, the anonymous letter against Bregović alleges that at the end of August 2013, he committed a criminal offense when, at a bank in Sarajevo, while transferring around 9,000,000 euros in various currencies, he gave a false statement that it was individual savings.

"This is money from the accounts of his related companies, originating from concerts he holds around the world, which has not been taxed, and everything was done with the aim of avoiding paying taxes," claims a Press interlocutor, emphasizing that this is stated in the letter submitted to SIPA, the RS Ministry of Interior, the Federation of BiH Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Finance of Serbia, the Tax Administration of RS and FBiH, and the French Embassy in BiH.

According to the source's claims, Bregović has registered companies "Kamarad produktion" in Paris, "Ignite Music Produktion Entertainment Ltd" in Montreal, then "Tetak d.o.o" with its seat in Pale, as well as a company of the same name with its seat in Sarajevo.

He adds that the letter also states that Bregović received fees in cash totaling 500,000 euros for concerts he held last year with his "Orchestra for Weddings and Funerals" in Budva, Ljubljana, Maribor, Vienna, Munich, Stuttgart, New York, Chicago, and Toronto.

"Until two years ago, Bregović operated through his company 'Tetak' from Pale, but since last year, all the income he generates has been directed to the account of the same-named company 'Tetak', registered on Čekaluša Street in Sarajevo," explains the newspaper's interlocutor.

What is particularly interesting in the whole story is that most security agencies are hiding information about the "Bregović" case like snakes hiding their legs. The District Prosecutor's Office East Sarajevo practically denies the claims of CJB East Sarajevo and states that they have not received any case related to the illegal transfer of money from other countries into BiH.

"Also, we point out that such an illegal transaction in the form of an illegal transfer of money into BiH from another country or countries does not fall under the jurisdiction of a prosecutor's office at this level, but such illegalities could be subject to the jurisdiction of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH," states the response from OT East Sarajevo.

The Agency for Investigation and Protection of BiH is also hiding information. When asked whether this police agency received an anonymous letter stating that Goran Bregović carried out illegal transfers of money into BiH from other countries, and whether SIPA has taken any measures and actions based on the allegations in that anonymous letter, SIPA spokesperson Kristina Jozić responded "that she currently cannot provide any comment to the public."

From the Federal Police Administration, even after ten days of waiting, we did not receive answers to our questions regarding this case, writes Press.