The Federal Police Administration has run out of licenses for forensic devices. That is why cases in which expert testimony is necessary are pending. The FUP claims that the acquisition of licenses is in the process, but, they say, it is unknown how long it will take. The situation is further complicated by the lack of expert staff for this type of expertise in the federal police administration.
Regular work on mobile phone expertise, the Center for Forensic Expertise Examinations and Research of the Federal Police Administration is threatened by the impossibility of renewing the license for SELBRIGHT devices. FUP uses three of these devices, for which the license is renewed annually. That is why a certain number of cases, which require an expert opinion, are pending. Among others, in the case of Hadžibajrić and others, for which the CS Prosecutor’s Office ordered an expert examination of mobile phones. In the FUP’s response, which was submitted to the cantonal prosecutor’s office and published by raport.ba, they state, among other things:
“In view of the above, and bearing in mind the importance and complexity of the cases related to Hadžibajrić and others, we emphasize that we do not know when they could start with the requested expert opinion, even if we take them as a priority, that is, out of order, because we do not know when they could get the necessary licenses. It certainly follows from this that we know even less when the expertise could be completed”.
As a problem, FUP states that currently none of the suppliers is able to deliver a license for existing devices or purchase new ones.
“It is unfortunate that such a strong service, which carries crime on its shoulders in the Federation, should have its license for cellbright expire, where all telephones that come to them are examined, I think it is frivolous for such an institution,” said the court expert in criminalistics Hadžib Salkić.
The Federal Minister of the Interior sees the former leadership of the FUP as the culprits for these omissions, and points out that work is being done to solve this problem.
“Director Munjić has already held a couple of meetings with the authorities, and agreed, it will be resolved in a short time, we will manage to finish it, carry out negotiations and discussions, the license will not be a problem”, emphasizes Federal Minister of the Interior Ramo Isak.
“Celbright blacklisted Bosnia and Herzegovina a year ago and does not supply absolutely any licenses, no matter how much the FUP wants to provide a license, Cellbright does not sell. All police units that have Cellbright devices are not able to extend the license, in order to be able to work new update with phones,” explains cyber security expert Vahidin Đaltur.
He goes on to add that there are alternatives, and that police agencies that have used these forensic devices so far should turn to other manufacturers and suppliers for devices that help in forensics.
