New report on 'illegal promotions in BiH Border Police' submitted to BiH Prosecutor's Office and SIPA

(Patria) - A report was submitted to the BiH Prosecutor's Office, the State Investigation and Protection Agency, the KS Office for Combating Corruption and Quality Management, and the media a few days ago against eight individuals for abuse of official position in connection with the promotion of police officers of the BiH Border Police, which Patria has seen.

The report lists the names of five police officers who were promoted to the ranks of "independent inspector" and "junior inspector", and the complainants explain the role of the promotion commission as well as the Police Officer Appeals Committee. The report includes the director of the BiH Border Police, Zoran Galić, his deputy Fahrudin Halač, Dragan Kulić, Assistant Director of the BiH Border Police, and five members of the Committee, including its president Samir Rizvo.

This is not the first report to the BiH Prosecutor's Office concerning the promotion process in the BiH Border Police, but no action has been taken on the reports for years. Security ministers, as well as the current minister Selmo Cikotić, the leadership of the BiH Border Police, and the Police Officer Appeals Committee have been informed about numerous irregularities for years. After the lack of any reaction from the management of the BiH Border Police, the report was sent to the BiH Prosecutor's Office and SIPA.

The key to promotions is held by an appointed commission, and the report states that the candidates who are supposed to pass are known in advance. Although the aggrieved candidates complain to the Police Committee, the report states that the Committee itself approves the illegalities carried out in the BiH Border Police.

In one of the reported cases, Ivica Sabljo is also mentioned, who received the rank of independent inspector and is now accused in the "Cadets" affair along with five other individuals for rigging the competition for the admission of cadets to the BiH Border Police. In that case, there is still no final outcome. The Police Officer Appeals Committee has never completed the process of deciding on the candidates' appeals, without which the director of the BiH Border Police cannot make a decision on the final list of 150 cadets.

A larger number of cadets who were on the published list in September 2021 decided to use all legal remedies to assert their rights.

The report lists numerous irregularities and inconsistencies that accompanied the promotion process in the BiH Border Police.

It also points to the connection between politics and certain individuals in both the BiH Border Police and the Police Officer Appeals Committee.

Letters sent to responsible persons in August and September were also submitted with the report. Given that there was no reaction and the promotions were completed, the report was sent to police and judicial institutions.