Crime and Corruption in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Decline in Crime Rates, Rise in White-Collar Crimes
According to the 2016 BiH Crime and Safety Report, the total number of registered criminal offenses in Bosnia and Herzegovina decreased by -26.55% between 2012 and 2016. However, this decline is offset by an increase in “white collar” crimes linked to corruption.
Forms of Corruption: High Threats
Corrupt criminal offenses are rated as high threats with an increasing trend, including:
- Abuse of official position or authority
- Conclusion of harmful contracts
- Incorporation of harmful contracts
- Giving gifts and other forms of benefits/bribe
- Receiving gifts and other forms of benefits
- Acceptance of bribes
- Procession in service
- Trade in influence
- Abuse in the public procurement procedure
Corruption as a Major Problem
The report highlights that corruption is a major problem in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the most common forms of corruption offenses being:
- Abuse of official position or authority
- Misconduct in service
- Receipt of bribes by officials
Organized criminal groups seek to use corruption methods to get protection from criminal prosecution and to keep illegally acquired profit.
Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index
The Association for the Fight against Corruption Transparency International in Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked BiH 83rd out of 176 countries according to the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index, with a score of 39 out of 100. The results showed that no progress has been made in the last year.
Analyzed Cases: Withdrawal of Money from State Ownership
A large number of analyzed cases relate to the withdrawal of money from legal entities in state ownership in multi-million amounts, and most often it was about concluding a contract on fictitious services, whereby money is drawn to related physical or legal persons, payment of actual purchase of goods, real estate or services at multiply increased prices.