INVESTIGATION EXPECTED: Feraget: Ćulum at the helm of SIPA is a bad message to citizens

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The proposal that Darko Ćulum be appointed director of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) represents yet another slap to the rule of law in this country, that is clear to every citizen of this country. The group Justice for David sees this behavior as a message to the citizens of this country that those who break the law and basic human rights are rewarded.

Simply put, the delegates of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina are expected not to accept his appointment.

Ifet Feraget, attorney for the Dragičević family, which seeks justice for their son David, stated in an interview with Patria that it is already known to the general public that in the Dragičević case, an appropriate investigation in accordance with the standards of the European Court was never even initiated. So, an investigation that would cover the circumstances of the case. In the meantime, everything that the RS Ministry of Interior announced at the press conference has been denied, and this was even confirmed by the Court when deciding on extending the detention of Alen Kukić, who was suspected of making those recordings, etc.,” says Feraget.
He explains that it is obvious that it was a fake robbery, that David was not a drug addict or dealer, that there was no house robbery, and that the RS Ministry of Interior supported that conference without any authorization.

„Mr. Ćulum was the director of the RS Ministry of Interior at that time, and given that there is evidence indicating circumstances of a possible connection between members of the RS Ministry of Interior and the kidnapping and murder of David, it is completely unacceptable for him to be a candidate for director of SIPA while an investigation has not been conducted. 

We are not claiming that he is, but the circumstances suggest he is not either. Therefore, an investigation must be conducted to determine what role Ćulum played in this whole story. What did he undertake against the persons who organized and held the conference,” emphasizes Feraget.

Also, attorney Feraget notes that it is generally known that Minister Dragan Lukač requested the prosecutor to issue an order not to conduct an investigation. In a way, from the very start, the RS Ministry of Interior obstructed the investigation. If we know that these are false pieces of evidence, it is almost certain, and several people were involved, that this is organized crime within an institution. That is what the circumstances indicate, and therefore an investigation should be conducted, and only after that can it be said whether Ćulum bears responsibility or not,” added Feraget.

He characterized the appointment of Ćulum before the investigation as sending a message to citizens that they cannot expect absolutely anything from the system. 

„So, the system does not want, it is not that it cannot, but the system does not want these two cases, Memić and Dragičević, to be resolved, and I have said a hundred times in these two cases, there is more than enough evidence about those who planted, destroyed, and obstructed the investigation, and they then lead us to those who killed these two young men,” added Feraget.

Incidentally, RS Ministry of Interior inspectors who were involved in the Dragičević case, Darko Ilić and Siniša Kostrešević, were appointed in January last year as advisors to the Minister of Interior of the Republika Srpska, Dragan Lukač. 

The informal citizens’ group “Justice for David” announced that they will use all legal means to fight for justice and truth, which are most needed by all of us. 

“If the appointment of Ćulum is not abandoned, we will call on citizens and all domestic and international public to help prevent this shameful move, which is the result of a party agreement between Milorad Dodik and Fahrudin Radončić, even though the position of SIPA director, like other police agencies, should by law be professional and free from any party influence,” they stated from the group.