Lukač fears Zubac's fate: Refuses to reinstate Vranj despite court decision!

Director of the Federal Police Administration Dragan Lukač has not yet reinstated Edin Vranj to the position of Head of the Criminal Police Sector, although the Municipal Court in Sarajevo ordered him to do so, confirmed Ahmed Žilić, Vranj's lawyer, for the BH News Agency Patria (NAP).

Lukač dismissed Vranj in February this year without a valid explanation, so Vranj sought his rights in court. A few days ago, the court ordered his reinstatement to the position pending the outcome of the court proceedings, however, Lukač has not yet complied.

- Vranj has not yet been reinstated to his position and it is necessary to comply with the court's order. We know that they received that decision, and that an appeal does not postpone its execution – Žilić told us.

The case of Edin Vranj's illegal dismissal is, as we learn, just the tip of the iceberg and proof that the leadership of the Federal Police has long been part of the problem, not the solution in the FBiH. Namely, the panicked dismissal of Vranj, after the Federation was shaken by the biggest riots and violence on February 7, which culminated in the burning of the BiH Presidency building and the Archive, was most likely an attempt to prevent the head of the FUP, Dragan Lukač, from being held accountable.

Vranj publicly criticized the slowness and reaction of the Federal Police during the attack on the BiH Presidency building, but no prosecutor's office has launched an investigation because of it. At the same time, the BiH Prosecutor's Office has already indicted the director of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), Goran Zubac, for dereliction of duty.

Lukač could and should have faced the same fate, given that the FUP arrived at the scene during the riots several hours late, when the buildings of the BiH Presidency and the Sarajevo Canton Government were already in flames. According to statements by the Chairman of the BiH Presidency, Bakir Izetbegović, the FUP reacted only after his repeated calls to Lukač, but not ex officio, which he was obliged to do.

Zubac did not receive such a call from Izetbegović and did not react, and is now justifiably the target of legal proceedings. However, it is unclear why Lukač is not, as he also failed to prevent the terrorist attack on the BiH Presidency.

SIPA's reaction is being reviewed by the BiH Court, but not the reaction of the federal chief of police. This fact may give credence to those who claim that a politically motivated investigation is being conducted against Zubac, because otherwise, Dragan Lukač, as well as the head of the Sarajevo police, Vahid Ćosić, who also had a legal obligation to protect state, federal and cantonal institutions and public order and peace, should also be subject to checks, NAP reports.

At the same time, there are a number of other serious accusations against Lukač. The KS Prosecutor's Office has received two criminal complaints for abuse of office, and the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) has also received a complaint that Lukač, in cooperation with certain prosecutors, is conducting politically motivated investigations and forcing FUP investigators to work on political orders.

However, to date, there is no institution that has had the courage to verify and fully clarify all these accusations.

The Independent Board of FBiH will obviously not do so, because it is headed by Sead Selman, Lukač's confidant, associate, and friend, and it is also clear from the Zubac case that independent boards do not have the strength to deal with illegality in the police.

Therefore, it is completely clear why the idea within international circles is increasingly maturing that BiH must return to the old issue of police reform, but this time in the right way.

As we learn, international officials are prepared to exert pressure to remove politically connected police leaders, opening the door to a genuine fight against corruption and the rule of law. This was warned a few days ago by the reputable Canadian international organization CIGI, which monitors the activities of the international factor in BiH.

- It is evident that there is political influence and control, and it can only be exercised through police leaders. It is necessary in this regard to refresh the police forces in BiH – a diplomatic source told the Patria agency.