SIPA investigates the operations of humanitarian organizations

The operation of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) under the code name "Pelegrino", carried out on February 26 this year in the areas of Mostar, Čapljina, Široki Brijeg and Međugorje, resulted in the arrest of several individuals who were abusing their official position and extorting in connection with the stay and work status of foreign nationals in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Two members of the Service for Foreigners' Affairs of BiH and one Italian citizen were also arrested in the operation.

These arrests are also linked to the work of two humanitarian organizations in the Međugorje area, "Regina delle Pace" and "Novi horizonti", which were the subject of investigation by inspection bodies and SIPA on suspicion of actually providing catering and tourist services under the guise of humanitarian work.

From the Indirect Taxation Authority of BiH, we received information that "the company Horizonti mira d.o.o. from Čapljina, Zvirovići bb, which carries out taxable activities within the complex of the humanitarian organization 'Regina della Pace', is registered as a VAT payer. During the control by the UIO BiH on the ground, it was determined that the humanitarian organization 'Regina della Pace' from Čapljina concluded a lease agreement for business premises with the company 'Horizonti mira' d.o.o. from Čapljina, which stated that the tenant, i.e., 'Regina della Pace' from Čapljina, would perform activities within the registered activities of the company, namely through: bar 'Oasis', bakery 'Sweet Bakery', souvenir shop 'Harmony', and hotel 'Joy Hotel'.

At the request of SIPA in April 2013, customs inspectors of the UIO carried out a control of the taxpayer 'Regina della Pace' from Čapljina.

"It was determined that the humanitarian organization 'Regina della Pace' from Čapljina imported goods into BiH worth BAM 293,848 during the period from 2010 to 2013, with exemption from import duties. It was concluded that the aforementioned humanitarian organization did not act in accordance with the valid regulations, and was subsequently charged with import duties in the amount of BAM 69,143, and a BAM 2,500 fine for the offense, totaling BAM 71,673.73, which the UIO has collected from the said taxpayer," stated the UIO BiH.

As we learned, the goods were of various humanitarian nature, primarily clothing, footwear, other household items, and food. The importer 'Regina della Pace' did not keep records of the end-users for the humanitarian goods imported into BiH. Goods "without inventory" were found in the taxpayer's warehouse, i.e., goods without an entry or exit record from the warehouse. Goods belonging to another humanitarian organization with which 'Regina della Pace' had a concession agreement were also found in the warehouse.

According to the provisions of Article 10 of the Annex to the Law on Customs Policy of BiH, it is stated that "humanitarian organizations that enjoy privileges when importing humanitarian shipments must not lend, rent, or transfer, for a fee or free of charge, goods and equipment imported into BiH as humanitarian with exemption from import duties, which this organization violated.

Otherwise, the humanitarian organization 'Novi horizonti' was founded by Chiara Amirante in 1994 with a special emphasis on helping war orphans. The official registration of the organization in BiH was carried out on 24.04.2003 by a decision of the Ministry of Justice of the FBiH.

Last year in October, the famous Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli also stood up in defense of this organization. In a letter he sent to the BiH authorities, Bocelli stated that the project was completely legal and that it was unacceptable to conduct 37 different inspections in one year. That letter was signed by about a hundred influential Italian intellectuals in support of this organization. Bocelli requested that the authorities in BiH allow the Italian humanitarian association 'Novi Horizonti' to operate within the project 'Citadela Nebo-Horizonti mira' and to issue residence permits to Italian citizens.

In her letter following SIPA's operation, Chiara Amirante states "that irrefutable evidence of dirty operations against the organization 'Novi horizonti' has finally been gathered. The letter emphasizes that 'Novi horizonti' had been exposed to pressure and controls for several years, but that the truth had to come to light." SIPA's operation was also followed by the Italian media.