Officials of the Indirect Taxation Authority Filipović, Krčar, Ćosić, Osmanović, Zabo and Galić Arrested

(Patria) - Officers of the Agency for Investigation and Protection of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SIPA) arrested this morning in the operation "Brend" six officials of the Indirect Taxation Authority (UIO) of Bosnia and Herzegovina suspected of abuse of official position, i.e., corruption and extortion of businessmen.

Arrested is the head of the Group for Prevention of Smuggling and Offenses in the Regional Center of the UIO in Tuzla, Boris Filipović, who is also the prime suspect in this case.

In addition to him, Milorad Krčar, Elvir Ćosić, Vedad Osmanović, Ladisav Zabo, and Benko Galić were also arrested. Unofficially, all are officials of the Regional Center of the UIO in Tuzla.

Searches were conducted of residential buildings, business premises, and vehicles at six locations in Tuzla, Bijeljina, Lukavac, Gradačac, and Lončari.

The operation is being carried out by SIPA under the supervision of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina and by order of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Two years ago, at the end of February, in an operation of the same name, SIPA officers arrested 11 customs officials for accepting bribes at the border crossings of Bosanska Gradiška, Šamac, and Orašje, and premises of the UIO of Bosnia and Herzegovina and other facilities at 22 locations were searched.

At that time, the suspects were under investigation on suspicion of illegally taking money or other forms of benefit in order to, during the import of goods from Croatia into Bosnia and Herzegovina, bypass the customs control measures they were obliged to carry out.