Diploma from PIM of Mayor of Old Town Irfan Čengić annulled: I am renewing my third and fourth year at another faculty

The university diploma of the Mayor of the Old Town Municipality of Sarajevo, Irfan Čengić, has been declared invalid. Namely, the rector of the University of Business Engineering and Management Banja Luka published in mid-May in the Official Gazette of Republika Srpska a notice declaring the diploma issued in the name of Irfan Čengić invalid.

“The University of Business Engineering and Management Banja Luka declares diploma number: 123, dated 15.6.2018, issued by the University of Business Engineering and Management Banja Luka, in the name of Irfan (Bakir) Čengić, invalid”, it is stated in the announcement in the Official Gazette of RS signed by Rector Mladen Ivić.

This announcement means that the university diploma of the current Mayor of the Old Town Municipality of Sarajevo can no longer be in legal circulation, i.e., it cannot be used.

Incidentally, the Prosecutor's Office of BiH filed an indictment against the University of Business Engineering and Management Banja Luka, commonly known as PIM, last year.

The prosecution team filed an indictment charging a total of 21 individuals and legal entities with association for the commission of criminal offenses, corrupt criminal offenses, and illegal trade of dozens of higher education diplomas, mainly in economics, law, technical engineering, health professions, management, and other fields of education.

“Through an extensive investigation by the Prosecutor's Office of BiH and SIPA over the past two years, thousands of pieces of material evidence have been collected, more than 130 witnesses have been interviewed, including representatives of the academic community, and special investigative actions have been carried out in which representatives of police structures were directly involved in uncovering the illegal sale and issuance of diplomas. According to the collected evidence, at least 49 higher education diplomas have been issued, the annulment of which will be sought in the legally prescribed procedure. The Prosecutor's Office of BiH and SIPA have collected evidence that persons who illegally purchased diplomas participated to a very small extent, or not at all, in the educational process at higher education institutions, and they most often paid amounts of several thousand euros for the purchase of illegal diplomas. The commission of criminal offenses has caused great damage to the higher education system in BiH, as well as endangering all citizens by the work and actions of persons with illegally obtained university diplomas. The Prosecutor's Office of BiH will seek to impose a ban on accused persons from holding positions in higher education institutions within the proceedings”, it was announced in July last year from the Prosecutor's Office of BiH.

Following this indictment, numerous diplomas issued by PIM have been annulled, including the diploma of the Mayor of Old Town, Irfan Čengić.

“Two months ago, I was informed that the Inspectorate of RS had issued a decision requiring the annulment of my first-cycle diploma due to errors in record-keeping and recognition of exams passed at the University of Sarajevo. I am aware of the motives, timing, and manner in which this decision was made, but instead of talking about 'attacks on Bosniaks' or making other comparisons, like the case of mayors in other countries, I respect the decisions of institutions.

I accept the consequences, but not any responsibility, because if there were any omissions, they are not mine. I will use my legal rights to prove my correctness and, as a legalist, I will respect every final decision of the institutions. I am convinced that all facts relevant to resolving this matter will be established accurately and correctly during the proceedings, in the interest of justice, not in the interest of certain groups and individuals. I remain in the position of Mayor of the Municipality, because for that position – as for any other I have held in the past 13 years as an elected official – an academic title was not a requirement, but exclusively the support of the people.

Every position I have been elected to, I have won solely by the will of the citizens, and an academic title has never been a requirement for me to perform any duty. For a year now, I have been enduring various attacks due to my fight against convicted criminals and groups – from a bomb attack on my family, pressure on colleagues who are with me, to political pressure. However, I will endure everything as long as I have the support of the people. If there is no support, I will leave on my own, because I have never imposed myself. Those who think they will slow me down this way are mistaken, because now we are going even stronger, as after every blow. I am the same now as I have been for all 13 years that citizens have shown me trust in elections. I will continue to work diligently to justify that trust, as I have done so far. I will not make any more statements on this topic until the court completes its work. Aware of the duration of court proceedings, regardless of this case, I will renew my third and fourth year of undergraduate studies at another faculty. Consequently, the second-cycle diploma from the University of UNSA will also have to be invalidated until the court proceedings are concluded. Finally, I want to clearly state that the citizens of Old Town will not feel the consequences of my private problem, and I will continue to be fully focused on dedicated work, as has been best seen in the past two months,” said Irfan Čengić for Istraga.ba.

The Mayor of the Old Town Municipality is a cadre of SDP BiH, but he is one of the dissidents who is often targeted by the president of SDP BiH, Nermin Nikšić, and the vice-president of that party, Vojin Mijatović, who maintained good relations with SNSD cadres.