After Internal Investigation: FUP Requests Investigation from Sarajevo Canton Prosecutor's Office into Several Police Officers

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Federal Police Administration issued a public statement regarding the activities undertaken to determine the potential responsibility of the Administration's officers, in connection with the allegations made by the portal “Žurnal”, given that the aforementioned has recently taken on different connotations compared to the factual situation.

"We remind you that in July 2019, the portal “Žurnal” published texts stating that the leader of a criminal group, Edin Gačanin, who is currently in Dubai, had secured money three years ago which he allegedly donated as equipment to the Special Police Unit of the Federal Police Administration through intermediaries. According to media assumptions, this is money that was "laundered" through certain private companies from Sarajevo. According to the same information from the portal “Žurnal”, during Edin Gačanin's stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he was allegedly provided protection by members of the Special Police Unit of the Federal Police Administration, including the now former police officer, Dženis Kadrić, who has since left the police and moved to Dubai.

Given that the Federal Police Administration and its employees are mentioned in the aforementioned text, in accordance with legal obligations, an internal procedure was conducted to determine the actual facts and the potential responsibility of the Administration's officers.

The internal investigation exclusively covered officers of the Federal Police Administration, and not Edin Gačanin, as an investigation is already underway at a higher level, so the named individual was not the subject of interest for this Administration solely regarding his personal contacts and potential cooperation with the Administration's officers.

Regarding the donated equipment, the conducted internal investigation did not prove that Edin Gačanin secured the money based on which the company “RHEA EXPRES” d.o.o. Sarajevo purchased and donated equipment to the Special Police Unit of the Federal Police Administration, through the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs. The entire procedure in the donation process was carried out in accordance with the Law and legal regulations. As for the allegations that Edin Gačanin secured the money for the equipment, it remains an operational data point for now.

Regarding the allegations by the portal “Žurnal” that police officers of the Federal Police Administration provided protection to Edin Gačanin during his stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Croatia, the internal investigation established and proved certain facts, based on which the indicated police officers committed serious violations of official duty, and to determine potential criminal responsibility, a criminal investigation is necessary.

The internal investigation did not prove that the police officers of the Federal Police Administration acquired unlawful property gain through their actions, which they then invested in additional activities, such as purchasing and managing catering businesses, which also remains only as operational data for now.

Through checks of registers of competent authorities (Municipalities and Courts), it was not determined that the indicated police officers possessed or were in the capacity of responsible persons regarding the catering facilities mentioned in the portal's texts.

Given that the Federal Police Administration has concluded its internal investigation based on which certain allegations of the portal “Žurnal” were checked and confirmed, and it is undisputed that certain police officers committed violations of official duty, we inform you that the Federal Police Administration has submitted information to the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office of Sarajevo Canton, in order to open an investigation to determine the potential criminal responsibility of certain members of this Administration.

The Federal Police Administration acts exclusively in accordance with the Law and legal regulations and is ready at any time to act in order to preserve its reputation, honor, and the trust of the citizens, by taking all necessary measures and actions within its jurisdiction to document all individuals, including its employees, who commit violations of official duty, illegal, or criminal acts through their actions.