SIPA arrests four persons for kidnapping

(Patria) - Police officers of the State Investigation and Protection Agency, under the supervision of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on January 17, 2024, in the area of Sarajevo, carried out a search of a residential building and deprived four persons of their liberty, nationals of Afghanistan, who are suspected of demanding a ransom from a person not residing in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina for three kidnapped persons, nationals of Iran and Switzerland, in the amount of 8,000.00 and 10,000.00 Euros. The ransom was subsequently paid outside Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the persons were released.

This organized group of kidnappers tortured and physically abused the kidnapped persons, inflicting bodily injuries on them, and one person ended up in hospital treatment.

Also, we note that one of the persons deprived of liberty is linked to the criminal offense of "Murder" committed against one of the migrants in the Lipa Immigration Center in Bihać, which occurred on December 31, 2023. The person was killed by being stabbed with a knife.

The aforementioned activities were carried out due to the existence of grounds for suspicion that an organized group from the area of Afghanistan committed the criminal offenses of "Organized Crime", "Organizing a Group or Association for the Commission of the Criminal Offense of Migrant Smuggling" and "Human Smuggling" prescribed by the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina and in connection with the criminal offense of "Kidnapping" from the Criminal Code of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as other serious criminal offenses that the persons deprived of liberty are suspected of having committed.

The persons deprived of liberty have been taken to official premises where they are being subjected to criminal investigation.

During the operation, cooperation was established with the police bodies of the Republic of Serbia and Switzerland, as well as Europol and Interpol of Bosnia and Herzegovina.