Corruption in BiH Border Police: Raković was 'Galić's Bosniak'

(Patria) - At the trial for receiving and giving bribes for employment in the Border Police, the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina presented a recording of secret surveillance and recording of one of the meetings.

Inspector of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) Melis Fišo explained how the investigation in this case began and what methods were used in collecting evidence.

“The case was formed at the end of August 2021. We received information from two independent sources that they were asking for money for admission to the Border Police,” said Fišo.

He recounted that interviews were conducted with these individuals – Subhad Šarić and Elmin Hasić, and special investigative actions were taken.

Fišo stated that in one case Ensar Salčinović was asking for money and in the other Kenit Čakić, and everything indicated that Rejhan Raković was behind it all, as the president of the admission committee.

He said that a simulated money purchase was carried out.

“Čakić received 10,000 marks twice. Čakić hands it over to Raković with another part, which turned out to be for the admission of his brother,” he said.

Fišo said that in the second case, the money handover did not take place due to a confluence of circumstances and because SIPA had to stop Raković when he left with the money received from the first case.

Raković and Čakić are accused of association for the purpose of committing criminal offenses, and receiving gifts and other forms of benefits, meaning they demanded and received money from candidates who applied for jobs in the Border Police.

Ensar Salčinović was also accused with them, who, according to an agreement, was sentenced to one year in prison.

A recording of the meeting between Šarić and Čakić in Novi Travnik was presented in the courtroom, where they discussed the job interview that Šarić had that day, and who was acting as an informant, in a catering facility.

In the recording, Šarić can be heard talking about the questions he had in the interview, and other candidates are also mentioned, as well as border crossings. Šarić expresses doubt whether the agreement will be honored.

“I would like you to call him now… so I know where I stand,” Šarić says.

Čakić tells him that “he,” as the president of the commission, received a certain number of his own people. He says that “he” is not a party member, that he is “Galić's Bosniak”.

Čakić also mentions the deputy from the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), and how SDA sent its list, and that this deputy made his own.

Šarić says that 20,000 is an excessive amount and not for an inspector's job, to which Čakić replies that for an inspector it is 30,000, but he thinks it will be 15,000 in his case.

Čakić tells him that everything depends on him and personally advises him not to give anything now.

“In 20 days, everything will be known… Maybe they will say send everyone… I'm telling you, this is your entry ticket,” says Čakić, who emphasizes in the conversation that he gets nothing from it. He also says that he has channels through which he sends money.

Not all parts of the conversation were clearly heard because the meeting was in a facility where music was playing.

Raković's defense stated that they would submit objections to the broadcast recording in writing. Čakić's lawyer, Damir Katica, commented that the recording shows that the informant was well-instructed and that his client was urged to take the money.

“My client says: ‘I think, I don’t know, I’m not sure… My advice to you is not to give anything’,” said Katica.

The Prosecutor's Office will continue broadcasting recordings on August 10, writes Detektor.