In the continuation of the investigation into the case of human trafficking for the sexual exploitation of girls, four more people were arrested, mostly police officers. This case has disturbed the public and questioned the trust in the functioning of the system. What has been done so far and in what direction the continuation of the investigation is leading, is the topic of our next story.
Two more police officers from Kalesija, Emir Kadrić and Ismet Hujdur, a police officer from Živinice, Almir Hodžić, and Mirsad Jagodić from Banovići, have been charged. So far, 12 people have been arrested in this case, of which 8 have been indicted.
ADMIR ARNAUTOVIĆ, spokesperson for the Tuzla Cantonal Prosecutor’s Office
“Of these, five individuals are accused of recruiting, luring, transporting and hiding these girls, handing them over to these individuals for the purpose of sexual exploitation in prostitution, and these seven individuals who sexually exploited these girls, paid them for it, while they were aware that they were victims of human trafficking and that they were persons who had not reached the age of 18, that is, that they were still minors.”
In addition to the fact that minors were exploited for prostitution, what further disturbed the public in this case is the fact that most of those arrested are police officers. The Police Directorate of the Tuzla Cantonal Police stated that, in addition to general and special conditions, before being hired, a candidate’s worthiness is also checked, which means that he has not committed a criminal offense and has not been punished for a violation of public order and peace that has the characteristics of violence.
ADNANA SPREČIĆ, spokesperson for the Police Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Canton of Tuzla
“That he has not been punished for a traffic offense committed under the influence of alcohol, drugs, narcotic substances and that he is not a person who is not prone to improper behavior, or who possesses qualities and characteristics that may prevent him from performing such tasks for which reason he would not be suitable for the police service.”
In addition, after being admitted to the service, there are continuous controls for which direct managers are authorized, and the Police Directorate also has a unit for organizational standards that deals with the control and supervision of the work of police officers and acts on all reports indicating their possible illegal and improper behavior.
Despite all these checks, in the case of human trafficking for the sexual exploitation of two girls, most of those arrested were police officers from the Tuzla Canton.
ADNANA SPREČIĆ, spokesperson for the Police Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior of the Canton of Tuzla
“An internal procedure has been initiated. Disciplinary proceedings against these officers are underway, and the director of the police department, in accordance with our deadlines that prescribe the actions of the Professional Standards Unit, issued a decision on temporary suspension for all of the aforementioned police officers.”
The Coordination Team for Combating Human Trafficking is also involved in uncovering cases of prostitution. They say that it is very difficult to obtain any information, because the people who have them are afraid to report and later testify for fear of retaliation.
NEDJELJKO JURKIĆ, coordinator of the mobile and identification team for combating
“These are also various types of pressure from potential exploiters, and they all fear for their lives and their health. It is very inconvenient and demanding to obtain any information, including from the prosecutor’s office, so that it could be qualified as human trafficking.”
Centers for social work additionally face the problem of housing victims of prostitution, especially minors, because housing capacities are limited, and there is no adequate institution that would provide care for children with behavioral disorders, which is often the case here. The investigation into the case of human trafficking where two minors were sexually exploited continues and at this time it is not known how many people are involved in this case.
