Will the BiH Council of Ministers comply with fugitive Galić or will they dismiss him?

(Patria) - The BiH Council of Ministers does not yet have a scheduled next session, although they are most often held on Thursdays.

At the last session, the BiH Council of Ministers did not consider the request of fugitive Zoran Galić, Deputy Director of SIPA, for dismissal because he met the conditions for retirement. An opinion was requested from the Independent Board, given that this body also carries out the selection procedure and is competent to initiate dismissal.

The Independent Board held a session at which it was concluded that the fugitive Deputy Director of SIPA, Zoran Galić, can be dismissed or relieved of duty at his own request.

This means that the BiH Council of Ministers is left to choose which procedure to decide on.

If the BiH Council of Ministers were to act on the request submitted by Galić's lawyers for him to be relieved of duty as of July 8, when he illegally left BiH and fled to Croatia, they would thereby "cover up his escape" and absence from work and enable him to receive a high monetary amount due to retirement.

The BiH Council of Ministers should, on this example, show that it respects the rule of law, and that it can deal with those who have acted to the detriment of the institutions and the state of BiH and have fled prosecution.

Galić tried to obtain sick leave or annual leave, but when he did not succeed, he submitted a request for early dismissal. The BiH Prosecutor's Office is undertaking procedural activities in this case, and a warrant is also expected to be issued.

Given that the competition procedure for the election of the SIPA Director is underway, members of the Independent Board of the BiH Parliament must consider the years of service of the candidates, i.e., avoid a situation where the new director needs to retire during their term.

Zoran Galić is suspected of the criminal offense of receiving gifts and abuse of position and authority while he was the director of the BiH Border Police.