While corruption and crime flourish in police ranks, directors and deputies rotate positions

(Patria) - Police agencies at all levels in BiH have been facing frequent arrests of their members for various criminal offenses in recent months. What was once a rarity has now become so common that the public rightly wonders how safe we are with compromised police agencies.

A few days ago, in an operation by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska, members of OSA, GP BiH, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska were arrested on suspicion of various criminal offenses, participation in criminal organizations, disclosure of official secrets, and human trafficking.

At the beginning of June, a member of DKPT was arrested at his workplace on suspicion of illicit drug trafficking with corrupt elements involving abuse of official position and police uniform. He was guarding the BiH Presidency. The suspect is accused of acting as part of an organized network for the transport, smuggling, and sale of large quantities of narcotics, including the drug "speed" and other types of narcotics.

We also recall media reports about the arrest of members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Sarajevo Canton for corrupt criminal offenses, faking traffic accidents, and concealing evidence. Court proceedings are ongoing, but there is no accountability for the leadership.

One of the cases that has not yet received a final prosecutorial epilogue is the arrest of Rejhan Raković for rigging the competition in GP BiH for the admission of 150 cadets. Eleven months were not enough for state prosecutor Bojana Jolović to make a final prosecutorial decision. In the meantime, Raković and Ensar Salčinović were dismissed from GP BiH. However, the cadets are on hold, as is the prosecution of those suspected of corruption. Members of GP BiH have been arrested in several cases of corrupt criminal offenses, including taking bribes at border crossings.

Prosecutor Bojana Jolović also took over as head of the prosecutorial team working on investigations related to the Sky and Anom applications. One of the communications between two criminals is precisely what cost Diana Kajmaković her position, and she was transferred to the Department for War Crimes. An investigation is underway into the entire case, and Kajmaković has likely been eliminated from further contention for the position of Chief Prosecutor of the BiH Prosecutor's Office.

At the beginning of February, a member of FUP was arrested for "illicit trade," "embezzlement in service," and "abuse of office or authority."

There are several examples of arrests of members of the BiH Armed Forces for various criminal offenses. The latest example is the arrest of a soldier in Foča for drug trafficking.

Even the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) was not exempt from compromised personnel. Inspector Robert Ristić was dismissed from SIPA in May 2021 after the first-instance disciplinary commission, based on internal control documents, determined his numerous failures in handling the "Đurasović" case. The Police Officers' Appeals Board upheld his appeal, and he continued to work in this police agency in a different department.

Such cases, which increasingly fill the media columns, undermine citizens' trust in the work of police agencies, but also raise questions about the responsibility of managers. No director or deputy in police agencies has resigned after their members were arrested. Instead, they themselves are the subject of media reports and investigations.

Suspicious university diplomas, abuse of official position, illegal promotions, disappearance of material and technical resources, accompany the leaders of state police and security agencies. And now that their mandates have expired, the same people are "best rated" to lead other police agencies.

Although corruption is the fundamental problem in BiH, and we are all aware of it, how can we expect those who are themselves part of the corrupt system to fight against it?

Through agreements between political parties that share the police and security sector as spoils, the same (loyal) people will continue where they left off. Without sanctions, without accountability.

Until the rule of law is realized equally for everyone and the heads, not just the tails, begin to be prosecuted, there will be no progress, and crime and corruption will flourish.

(A.V.)