Corruption cases with social impact in the Western Balkans and Turkey

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Bosnia and Herzegovina

Border police corruption case: Guilty verdicts for bribery

Case Date(s): 10/2021

Case Updated: 09/2022

Case Summary

Phase

Enforcement

Offence

Bribery of public officials

Sector

Public administration and defense; compulsory social security

Institution

Border Police of BiH

Involved people

Allegedly involved people Goran Milošević Official of the border police

Politically exposed: No

— Bribery of public officials

Allegedly involved people Svetozar Kašiković Official of the border police

Politically exposed: No

— Bribery of public officials

Allegedly involved people Vladislav Pravica Official of the border police

Politically exposed: No

— Bribery of public officials

Allegedly involved people Milorad Rogač

Politically exposed: No

— Bribery of public officials

Allegedly involved people Darko Đurica

Politically exposed: No

— Bribery of public officials

Allegedly involved people Zoran Rogač

Politically exposed: No

Allegedly involved people Goran Svorcan

Politically exposed: No

Allegedly involved people Aleksandar Milinić

Politically exposed: No

Three border police officers and at least six other individuals were declared guilty by the court of Bosnia and Herzegovina in September 2022 for committing multiple criminal offences, including bribery, between December 2020 and April 2021, in relation to smuggling and illicit trade of goods.

Three border police officers and at least six other individuals were declared guilty by the court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in September 2022 for committing multiple criminal offences, including accepting gifts and other forms of benefits, between December 2020 and April 2021, in relation to smuggling and illicit trade of goods in the BiH region of Korita.

The police officers of the Trebinje border police unit of the Border Police of BiH - Goran Milošević, the patrol team leader, and Svetozar Kašiković and Vladislav Pravica – worked in a provisional border crossing for border traffic through which neither commercial goods nor goods subject to inspections may be taken. They accepted gifts and other forms of benefit to refrain from conducting the inspections they were required to perform, and allowed the passage of large quantities of products not marked by BiH stamps for the purpose of circulating them in BiH. According to the first-instance verdict, the bribes were paid by Darko Đurica and Milorad Rogač, who, along with Zoran Rogač, Goran Svorcan and Aleksandar Milinić, engaged in the criminal offences of smuggling and illicit trade in products.

The court of Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed the indictment on 21 October 2021, and issued a first-instance verdict on 20 September 2022. Following an agreement between the prosecutor’s office and the defence, all eight individuals were found guilty and sentenced to fines and suspended sentences; they would only have to serve time in prison if they committed other crimes within a designated period. Only Goran Milošević, who was the patrol team leader and played the role of escort and controlling movement in the border area and who gave fake licence plates to other members of the group, was sentenced to one year in prison, with a one-month pre-trial custody credited towards the imposed sentence of imprisonment.

Further details

JURISDICTION/COURT: name of court

LAWS (ALLEGEDLY) BREACHED

name of law (offence, article if available) here: e.g.:

Criminal Code (Abuse of an official position, Article 416); Law on Public Procurement.

FINAL SANCTION OR MEASURE

Goran Milošević: a sentence of 1 year in prison and a fine of BAM6,000 (around €3,000).

Svetozar Kašiković: conditional prison sentence of 1 year (suspended if he does not commit a new criminal offence within 3 years) and a fine of BAM5,000 KM (around €2,500).

Vladislav Pravica: Conditional prison sentence of 1 year (suspended for 3 years) and a fine of BAM4,000 (around €2,000).

Milorad Rogač: conditional prison sentence of 1 year (suspended for 3 years) and a fine of BAM3,000 (around €1,500).

Darko Đurić: conditional prison sentence of 1 year (suspended for 3 years) and a fine of BAM3,000 (around €1,500).

Zoran Rogač: Conditional prison sentence of 1 year (suspended for 2 years) and a fine of BAM2,000 (around €1,000).

Goran Svorcan: Conditional prison sentence of 1 year (suspended for 2 years) and a fine of BAM3,000 KM (around €1,500).

Aleksandar Milinić: Conditional prison sentence of 1 year (suspended for 2 years) and a fine of BAM1,000 (around €500).

PROSECUTOR: Mladen Furtula

JUDGE: Stanko Blagić

DEFENCE COUNSEL

Accused: Milošević Goran

Defender: Bojan Veselinović

Accused: Kašiković Svetozar

Defence counsel: Aleksandar Majkalović and Nina Kisić

Accused: Pravica Vladislav

Defence counsel: Alija Galijatović and Mirza Pecikoza

Accused: Rogač Milorad

Defence counsel: Nina Kisić and Goran Dragović

Accused: Đurica Darko

SOCIAL HARM ON SDGs

16 Peace, justice and strong institutions

While no specific details have been provided about this case, it is assumed that the entry of illicit products into the country leads to a loss of revenue by tax authorities and undermines legal markets and free competition. Corruption among officials, especially those charged with enforcing the law, also undermines public trust in the authorities’ ability to fight crime. This case in particular shows how organised crime can infiltrate key state institutions, allowing illegal activities such as smuggling and trade in illegal products to take place.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of the information contained in this database. All information is believed to be correct as of 09/2022 Nevertheless, Transparency International cannot accept responsibility for the consequences of its use for other purposes or in other contexts.

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