SIPA Takes Over Further Investigative Activities in the Murder Case of Sarajevo Police Officers

SARAJEVO, (Patria) – The Cantonal Prosecutor's Office officially confirmed that all further investigative activities and evidence collection in the case of the murder of two police officers, Adis Šehović and Davor Vujinović in October 2018 will be undertaken by the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA).

“Although the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) has been taking actions in the case since the commission of the criminal offense of murder of police officers of the MoI of the Sarajevo Canton, by order of the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office of November 12, 2021, SIPA was instructed to continue further investigative activities aimed at identifying co-perpetrators of the murder and collecting evidence,” said Azra Bavčić, spokesperson for the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office for Patria.

Although the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office did not provide any other details, this decision comes after the Police Commissioner of the MoI of the Sarajevo Canton, Nusret Selimović, held a press conference on November 8, stating that the murder case of the police officers had been “solved” and that they had submitted a supplementary report to the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office on November 5.

The Cantonal Prosecutor's Office then reacted and noted that all police agencies, including the MoI of the Sarajevo Canton, are obliged to take actions within their authority and under the supervision of prosecutors.

“Solving a criminal offense, as stated, from a police perspective and informing the public about it does not simultaneously mean that sufficient evidence has been collected in the case in question to allow a prosecutorial decision to be made.

In the interest of the investigation, it is necessary that everyone refrains from disclosing information about the case, as this could directly jeopardize the interests of the investigation into a serious criminal offense. The Prosecutor's Office will continue to intensively carry out actions in this complex investigation, and the MoI of the Sarajevo Canton is expected to act promptly and efficiently in accordance with the law, following the requests and orders of the Prosecutor's Office,” it was stated at the time.

It is evident that relations between the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office and the MoI of the Sarajevo Canton in this case have been damaged, and the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office prepared information on this matter and forwarded it to the Independent Board for the Selection and Review of the Police Commissioner of the Assembly of the Sarajevo Canton. At the session held by the Independent Board, the information was reviewed, and the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office was asked for additional clarification on whether the described actions, which relate to the Police Commissioner of the Police Administration of the MoI of the Sarajevo Canton and the named police officers, contain elements of a criminal offense and whether the Prosecutor's Office is taking any actions against them.

The Cantonal Prosecutor's Office announced yesterday that Aleksandar Macan, suspected of the murder of the police officers, has been ordered into custody and that an international warrant will be issued.

During the search of several locations in East Sarajevo and Pale on November 4, various weapons were seized, and three individuals gave statements at SIPA.