RESIGNED ĆULUM AUTHORIZED NOVAK MIJOVIĆ, VAHIDIN ŠAHINPAŠIĆ, AND ERNAD MUSIĆ TO MANAGE SIPA

“Novak Mijović, advisor to the director for operational work, and Vahidin Šahinpašić, advisor to the director for cooperation, logistics, and training, are authorized to sign acts within the jurisdiction of the State Investigation and Protection Agency in case of absence or inability of the Agency Director and the Assistant Director – Head of the Sector for Planning, Analytics, Cooperation, and Information (Ernad Musić),” reads the latest act signed by the now former director of SIPA, Darko Ćulum.

This morning, according to Istraga’s information, Ćulum held his last collegium meeting where he bid farewell to his associates, stating that “the media invented his statement that he is leaving the position due to the RS law”. In his address, he said that he does not want the Head of the Criminal Investigation Department, Suad Hasanović, to replace him.

“This is my final decision. Until the Council of Ministers appoints a new director, SIPA will be managed by my Cabinet, meaning Novak Mijović and Vahidin Šahinpašić for operational matters and Ernad Musić for administrative matters,” Ćulum said.

Given that Ernad Musić is not an authorized official, meaning he does not have a police rank, he cannot manage police affairs. Therefore, Ćulum decided that Novak Mijović and Vahidin Šahinpašić, who recently served as the Head of SIPA’s Criminal Investigation Department, will jointly manage police affairs.

“Considering the personal, professional, and vocational references of Novak Mijović, advisor to the director for operational work, and Vahidin Šahinpašić, advisor to the director for cooperation, logistics, and training, it was decided to transfer the authority to sign acts within the Agency’s jurisdiction to the appointed individuals. The provisions of the Rulebook on the Internal Organization of the Agency stipulate that the head of the Agency may authorize heads of basic organizational units or other officials of the Agency to sign specific acts within the Agency’s jurisdiction,” the explanation of Ćulum’s Decision states.

According to Istraga’s information, Darko Ćulum decided to resign after holding a meeting with certain international officials who asked him to sign an order for SIPA, with the assistance of EUFOR, to carry out the arrest of Milorad Dodik.

Ćulum submitted his resignation yesterday, requesting to be relieved of duty as of March 19. This is the deadline the RS Government gave to Serbs from RS to leave state institutions whose work they have banned on the territory of RS through an unconstitutional law (High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, Court, Prosecutor’s Office, SIPA).