SIPA files report against director to Prosecutor's Office: Galić orders investigation, searches for "mole" in Border Police

SIPA has submitted complete documentation on the controversial procurement of luxury cars and shirts for Border Police BiH members, along with an extensive statement from suspended high-ranking Border Police official Svevlad Hoffmann, to the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, the Patria News Agency has learned.

Hoffman, as we were unofficially confirmed by SIPA, filed a criminal complaint against the director of Border Police BiH, Zoran Galić, for abuse of official position and authority.

During his almost 5-hour statement at SIPA, he thoroughly explained how two luxury vehicles were procured for over 160,000 KM, and then shirts (and other clothing items) for Border Police BiH members, which were expensively priced and whose quality did not match the price or suitability for wear. 1.8 million KM was spent on this, and the low-quality shirts were priced as high as 40 KM.

He also spoke to SIPA inspectors about numerous other irregularities in which Galić was directly involved in the past.

This was the reason why, about 10 days ago, Vladimir Popović, Galić's subordinate and a "policeman with a dubious past," initiated an internal investigation and began questioning all Border Police BiH employees who had either seen or possessed the contracts for the procurement of cars and shirts.

Galić wants at all costs, through his loyal man Popović, to find out how everything he did in this police agency became public.

Who is Vladimir Popović

Vladimir Popović is the head of the Office for Professional Standards and Internal Control of Border Police BiH.

He has strong support from high-ranking politicians, and although he is not a police officer, he was hired overnight into the Border Police BiH and advanced at lightning speed.

Popović has held his current position since September 2015. Until then, he served as the head of the Office for Strategic Planning and European Integration. Popović holds the rank of Chief Inspector, which he achieved not through his merits, but through the influence and lobbying of Croatian politicians.

Before coming to Border Police BiH, Vladimir Popović worked in the private company "Dalmata" from Herzegovina. When he was hired into the Border Police BiH, he submitted a certificate of previous police experience in one of the MUPs in Herzegovina.

Popović is under the direct protection of director Zoran Galić, and everything he does in Border Police BiH is on his orders, which the media have reported on several times.

While checks on previous tenders are underway, Border Police BiH has announced a new tender for the procurement of new uniforms, for which 1.5 million KM has been allocated.

Hoffmann suspended on June 15

Chief Inspector Svevlad Hoffmann was suspended by Galić on June 15 this year for allegedly multiple breaches of work duties, and the suspension can last for a maximum of 60 days, i.e., until the disciplinary proceedings are concluded. The suspension expires on August 15. Hoffmann was suspended after persistently requesting information about the procurement of vehicles and equipment for agency employees for months.