State Investigative and Protection Agency

Bosnia's state prosecutor has demanded a month's detention for nine people arrested on suspicion on gaining over 5 million euro from money laundering, evading taxes and fictional, falsified agreements.

Bosnia's State Investigative and Protection Agency, SIPA, has arrested seven persons in an action codenamed "Gibraltar" after conducting raids in Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Mostar, Posusje and Grude, related to financial crime and corruption.

Among the suspects were some well known names from marketing agencies, the world of television and telecommunications companies.

Jerko Ivankovic Lijanovic, the Federation's Agriculture Minister, his two brothers, Slavo and Jozo, Milorad Bahilj, the Federation's Trade Minister, and Mirko Galic are all suspected of large-scale tax fraud.

Members of the People's Party Work for Progress in Bosnia have criticised the detention earlier this week of their party's two leaders, saying they suspect political influences were at work.

Jerko Ivankovic-Lijanovic and Milorad Bahilj, Agriculture and Trade ministers in the Federation entity government, were among 11 persons arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of tax evasion and fraud.

Aside from Jerko Ivankovic-Lijanovic, his brother, Mladen, a lawmaker in Bosnia's state-level House of Representatives, and other members of the family were also arrested. 

Bosnia's Security Ministry is seeking the dismissal of Goran Zubac, director of the State Investigative and Protection Agency, SIPA, at Wednesday's session of the Council of Ministers.

The state prosecutor’s office confirmed to Balkan Insight on Friday that an indictment had been issued against Zubac, who is charged with failure to react properly and send special police forces to curb the unrest in February, when many state institutions, including the presidency, were set on fire.

Bosnia's State Investigative and Protection Agency, SIPA, said that it was not authorized to maintain peace and security in the streets, as this was the job of the entity and cantonal police structures.