Official Data: Highest Number of Corruption Cases Reported, SIPA Reduced Number of Operations!?

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, corruption has taken root in every aspect of society, as evidenced by data from the Ministry of Security of BiH. The data are not optimistic, as last year the number of registered corruption offenses reached a maximum, Patria writes.

- Widespread corrupt activities, especially systemic corruption, continue to pose a particularly great threat to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Corrupt activities are not merely attempts to secure some undue benefit, but almost always end in success for the initiator of the corruption and with appropriate compensation for the one who illegally secured the specific benefit for the initiator – say the Ministry of Security.

During 2015, police agencies in BiH registered a total of 723 criminal corruption offenses, which compared to the previous year (623) represents an increase of 16 percent in this criminal offense.

- Abuse of office or authority in the economy prevails as the most common corrupt offense in BiH. In 2015, 277 such offenses were registered – adds the Security Situation Report.

And while it is evident that corruption in BiH is growing, statistics show that the State Investigation and Protection Agency did less work last year when it comes to operations related to corruption.

SIPA conducted 13 operational actions, which is 7 percent less compared to 2014. In the actions, 61 persons were arrested, which is also less compared to 2014 when 66 persons were arrested – the Report states.

As a warning, it is stated that the link between corruption and organized crime represents one of the most dominant factors threatening the further development and economic stability of BiH.

It seems that participants in corruption are more cautious, at least according to the Report.

- Significantly greater caution of the involved persons is noticeable, primarily due to the extremely intensified media campaign being conducted against this phenomenon – it is noted.

The Intelligence-Security Agency (OSA) has on several occasions obtained data on the receipt of larger sums of money by certain responsible persons employed in ministries or other public companies for the issuance of various permits and documentation necessary for the regular operation of business entities, as well as the receipt of bribes when it comes to public procurement, and even just the payment of invoices!

- Despite several initiated proceedings in BiH against persons who abused their official position while working at border crossings, criminal individuals continue to illegally transport various goods across the state border with the help of border officials. After the payment of bribes taken by persons employed on both sides of the border, goods are transported without any inspection, thus enabling the transport of drugs, weapons and other illegal items – the data from the Report are alarming.

Particularly serious in terms of security are cases of corruption within inspection bodies, which by their work should protect the health of BiH citizens, but instead enable the import of certain products that do not meet prescribed standards and can cause serious harm to the health of the population.