Fugitive Zoran Galić did not receive severance pay: Independent Committee opens applications for SIPA Deputy Director on January 28

(Patria) - Zoran Galić, the dismissed deputy director of SIPA, was deregistered as of July 8, 2024, at the Cantonal Tax Office in Ljubuški (Posušje branch) and did not receive severance pay.

This is stated in the response of the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina to a parliamentary question by state representative Jasmin Emrić (NES).

Recall, Galić fled Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 8, illegally crossed the border into Croatia, and evaded arrest ordered by the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Galić is suspected of abuse of office and accepting bribes while he was director of the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina expressed suspicion that someone informed Galić he would be arrested in an operation by the Prosecutor's Office, and on the morning of July 9, when the operation was carried out, he was not found in Posušje.

Galić is still in Croatia, and according to information from Patria, he can often be seen in Makarska.

Croatia does not want to extradite Galić to the judiciary of Bosnia and Herzegovina because he also holds Croatian citizenship.

At the same time, the position of SIPA deputy director has been vacant for months, and the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina only prematurely dismissed Galić on October 23, at his request, with the explanation that conditions for removal had not been met.

The Independent Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina announced a competition for the position of SIPA deputy director, and the received applications will be considered at a session on January 28. According to information, candidates from the Croatian people exclusively submitted applications. After reviewing all applications, an interview date will be set.

Regarding the position of SIPA director, the mandate of the current director, Darko Ćulum, expired back in July. A competition procedure was conducted, but the appointment was never considered by the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In September, Minister of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina Nenad Nešić proposed the appointment of Slobodan Radinković as the third-ranked candidate for director, but due to certain information about Radinković and his connections with individuals from the criminal milieu, the ministers of the troika did not want to give support, so this appointment was never considered. The list also included Ćulum and Ljubiša Pandurević. However, there is a dilemma regarding Ćulum as to whether he meets the conditions for retirement.

At today's session of the Constitutional and Legal Committee of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a parliamentary initiative by Šemsudin Mehmedović will be discussed, which "obliges the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina to dismiss Darko Ćulum, director of the State Investigation and Protection Agency, because he has more than 40 years of pensionable service, considering the above, and based on Article 119, paragraph (1), point 3 of the Law on Police Officers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the appointed police officer's employment automatically terminates and he loses the status of a police officer."

On the other hand, Nešić was arrested at the end of December and is in custody, while Ivica Bošnjak performs the duties of minister. In the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the removal of the arrested Nešić has been initiated, which could be included on the agenda of tomorrow's session of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Although Nešić's one-month custody expires next week, the prosecuting attorney will most likely seek an extension of custody. Nešić is suspected of taking bribes in the period 2016-2020 from road maintenance contracts awarded by Roads of Republika Srpska to Romanijaputevi. Money was paid from Romanijaputevi to various accounts, then brought in cash to various locations and returned to Nešić.

Until the position of Minister of Security is filled, the Ministry is led by deputy Ivica Bošnjak (HDZ BiH).