On what basis did Forto approve over 20,000 KM donation to FMUP to pay VAT for uniforms donated by the cartel

(Patria) - President of Our Party Edin Forto says he was not interrogated in the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- I was not arrested. And it is not an interrogation, but I was properly summoned as a witness. I gladly gave a statement about the circumstances while I was Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton - Forto will state, which media close to the Tripartite regime assessed as a denial of the information published on Wednesday around noon by Istraga.ba.

To begin with, in order for colleagues from Oslobođenje, as well as Minister Forto himself, to learn something, we will quote the Criminal Procedure Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"Witnesses are examined when there is a probability that their testimony can provide information about the criminal offense, the perpetrator, and other important circumstances," states Article 81, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

If they knew anything, both Forto and the journalists from Oslobođenje would ask a logical question - if Forto says he was not "interrogated," how could Forto have "testified."

However, that is not the only untruth in Forto's statement given to the media, who trust ministers more than themselves and the Law.

"I gladly," says Forto, "gave a statement about the circumstances while I was Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton."

Istraga.ba, however, learns that Edin Forto did not give a statement. He did not sign any record of witness examination. In fact, he was summoned for an examination, but during the conversation with investigators and the prosecutor of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, he stated that he was not ready to "gladly testify" today. Thus, the president of Our Party postponed his "gladness" for two weeks.

And here is what it is about.

Ermin Alomerović Kiki, a Sarajevo businessman and owner of the company "Rhea Express," admitted in April this year in the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina that Gordan Memija and others persuaded him to be a "formal" donor of uniforms for the Special Unit of the Federal Police Administration (FUP).

The money for the procurement of uniforms was provided by Edin Gačanin Tito, the leader of the powerful Tito and Dino drug cartel. The problem, however, was the fact that someone had to pay VAT in the amount of about 25 thousand marks.

To conceal his role, the then Federal Minister of Interior Aljoša Čampara "lobbied" for the Government of Sarajevo Canton, led by Edin Forto, to make a decision to allocate that money from the Budget of Sarajevo Canton.

Thus, Forto makes a decision on a "donation to higher authorities." This money will be used to pay VAT for the uniforms, and Aljoša Čampara will, although the donation was intended for the Police Administration, take over the donation as FMUP. Čampara kept one uniform for himself.

In short, an internal investigation established that six FUP special forces members in September 2016 guarded Edin Gačanin while he was staying in Sarajevo, where he was hosted by businessman Gordan Memija, and the police also found evidence that a few months later, equipment was donated to FMUP.

"During Edin Gačanin's stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina, during joint contacts of the named person in gatherings where, in addition to Gačanin, Gordan Memija and other persons, members of the FUP Special Unit were present.

At one meeting, it is assumed, the procurement-purchase of equipment for the FUP Special Police Unit was agreed upon, in such a way that Gačanin gave cash to Ermin Alomerović, known as Kiki, owner of the company 'Rhea Express,' who then, after contacts with Mustafa Selmanović, commander of the Special Police Unit, through his company imported and donated the equipment to the Ministry of Interior of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and then the Ministry of Interior of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina allocated the equipment to the FUP Special Unit," stated in the Information that the Federal Police Administration submitted to the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office of Sarajevo at the beginning of 2020.



What was agreed in September 2016 was realized at the beginning of 2017. The company "Rhea Express" suddenly appeared as a donor of equipment that it had previously ordered from abroad.

Thus, 75 sets of Arc teryx LEAF H tactical equipment and five alpha jackets - model 13317 - Wolf were donated to the Federal Ministry of Interior. The total value of this equipment was 81 thousand dollars, and the customs costs were covered by the Government of Sarajevo Canton.

This equipment was transferred by the Federal Ministry of Interior, with Aljoša Čampara at its head, to the FUP Special Unit, which is managed by the family friend of the Čampara family - Mustafa Selmanović.

"Based on the data from the assignment table, i.e., the statement of the commander of the Special Police Unit, it is evident that certain uniforms, i.e., parts of equipment, were distributed as gifts, so it was also recorded that the Minister of the Ministry of Interior of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was assigned one set: ARC teryx LEAF H 150 - belt lining, knee pads, assault shirt AR, combat pants Gen 2, Alpha LT jacket and combat jacket, and one alpha jacket," it was established during the investigation.

The owner of "Rhea Express" was arrested in April this year and then confessed to the entire conspiracy, adding that he was cheated for part of the money that Gordan Memija and Mustafa Selmanović were supposed to give him.