SIPA arrests six in "Index" operation, seizes diplomas, documents, seals, computers, and cash

(Patria) - State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) police officers today, in the operational action "Index", searched business and residential premises and movable property at 13 locations and arrested six people.

The arrested individuals were taken to SIPA premises for criminal processing and questioning as suspects. Their further status will be decided by the acting prosecutor of the BiH Prosecutor's Office within the legal deadline.

During the searches, which were carried out in the areas of Sarajevo, Zenica, Goražde, Travnik, and Konjic, a large quantity of documents, university diplomas, student files, documentation related to the financial operations of legal entities, seals, 24,000 euros and 20,000 convertible marks, computers, and other items that can serve as evidence in criminal proceedings were discovered and temporarily seized.

This operational action involves several natural and legal persons, and the investigative activities relate to the prosecution of irregularities associated with private higher education institutions in BiH.

The searches were carried out under the order of the Court of BiH and under the supervision of the BiH Prosecutor's Office, in cooperation with police officers of the Federal Police Administration, the Ministries of Internal Affairs of Sarajevo Canton, Zenica-Doboj Canton, Bosansko-Podrinjski Canton, Central Bosnia Canton, and Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, SIPA announced.

Damir Žuga, representative of @narodipravda in the BPK Assembly, was arrested as part of the Index operation, @IstragaB learns. He issued a permit for the International University in Goražde, which issued fake diplomas. Žuga is part of an international criminal group with Italian mafioso Salvatore…

— Istraga.ba (@IstragaB) March 18, 2024

One of the arrested individuals is Damir Žuga, a representative of Narod i pravda (People and Justice) in the BPK Assembly, writes the Istraga.ba portal.

Žuga issued a permit for the International University in Goražde, which issued fake diplomas, and is part of an international criminal group led by Italian mafioso Salvatore Messina.