TI BiH informed the German investigative bodies regarding the procurement of IDDEEA

Banja Luka, 7. October 2014 — Transparency International of Bosnia and Herzegovina sent information to the German investigative bodies regarding the procurement of electronic ID cards and driver’s licenses, the system for creating and personalizing electronic ID cards and contracts concluded in connection with this work by the Agency for Identification Documents, Records and Data Exchange of BiH (IDDEEA). TI BiH forwarded the information to the German investigative bodies, bearing in mind that according to the information from the media reports, as well as the audit report, German capital and legal entities from Germany were included in the whole case.

Based on media articles and the audit report for 2013, it can be concluded that there are grounds for suspicion that these are serious crimes with elements of criminal association, which include the highest authorities and their relatives.

In this case, the Agency in 2012. conducted a procurement procedure related to the delivery and establishment of a system for partial personalization of cards, delivery and upgrade of existing equipment for personalization of cards, as well as delivery of cards and a complete system for personalization of electronic ID cards and system maintenance. The procurement in the total value of about 104,000,000 KM was carried out through a negotiated procedure without publication of a notice. The audit report pointed out a number of irregularities in this procedure, including the selection of a negotiated procedure without additional procurement information, which is prescribed by the BiH Law on Public Procurement. The audit report also determined that the contract for the purchase of forms of ID cards and driver’s licenses agreed on provisions that could have detrimental consequences for the budget of BiH institutions, and that primarily refers to withdrawal of agreed annual quantities, total quantities and advance payment.

Given the possible involvement of high-ranking political officials and the fact that the BiH judiciary is completely inactive and under direct political control, at this time it is unrealistic to expect that this case will be before the BiH investigative bodies. As a signatory to the OECD Convention on the Punishment of Bribery Abroad, Germany has an obligation to investigate such cases, given that in the whole case there is a segment of foreign countries, ie the involvement of German capital and legal entities.

Press rls – 7 10 2014 doc