Illegal procurement process in Border Police: How they procured vehicles, shirts, socks

Audit report of BH Border Police for year 2015 indicated certain deviations in the public procurement procedures. The procurement process was run by the Department of Public Procurement and Logistics. The members of this department were at the same time the members of the Committee for Public Procurement. That's how the control process of the public procurement was compromised i.e. susceptible to corruption, the report concluded. That has been further confirmed by the fact that public procurement was many times done through direct agreements, mainly because there was no timely and proper planning and most jobs were done in the nick of time.

Decision about procurement of motor vehicles was made on 6 July 2015 and an open procedure commenced for a total value of 1,812,000 KM. At the time Patria wrote about purchase of 'VW Passat' worth 51,300 KM, and a 4WD 'Touareg' worth 102,000 KM, with additional equipment worth 6,000 KM. Only the members of BH Presidency enjoy the right of purchasing luxury cars, yet both Director of Border Police Zoran Galic and his Deputy Zijad Srabovic bought themselves such cars.

In 2015, a total of 32 cars were purchased through one exclusive vendor 'MRM' Ljubuski. Total contractual value was 1,600,000 KM.

When it comes to procurement of uniforms, the key criterion specified in the contract was – the price. Tender documentation stipulated signing contracts with more than one vendor. The Border Police did not comply. They purchased shirts and T-shirts worth 1,893,000 KM, trousers worth 900,000 KM, socks for 111,000 KM and jackets at 1,900,000 KM. According to the audit report, in all these instances the legal procedure was violated. That's why the price of shirts of 45 KM/piece was doubtful from the start.

This audit report is a serious warning about illegal activities in the BH Border Police.