SARAJEVO, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Members of Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) police arrested on Monday five persons on charges of power abuse and bribery taking in the city of Bihac, located some 310 kilometers northwest of the capital Sarajevo.
The first person arrested in police action was a former mayor of the city of Bihac, Emdzad Galijasevic. His lawyer, Ilijas Midzic, confirmed his arrest to local media on Monday morning.
All persons were arrested for allegedly committing a criminal offense related to the construction of the Komrad Public Utility Company building in Bihac.
"The persons are deprived of liberty because of the existence of grounds for suspicion that they committed a criminal offense of abuse of office power and the receipt of gifts and other forms of benefits," spokesperson of Federal Police Administration (FUP) Snezana Galic confirmed to local media.
Galijasevic is also suspected for committing criminal acts of bribery and prevention of evidence. Namely, he was arrested while taking 10,000 KM (5,760 U.S. dollars) bribe which was paid by marked banknotes by a businessman who cooperated with BiH Prosecutors Office.
At the time when the envelope with the banknotes was opened, members of Federal Police Administration entered the building and arrested Galijasevic.
FUP searched the premises of the Bihac City Administration and Komrad on the order of BiH's Prosecutor's Office. Criminal Investigation is underway.
