MILITARY POLICE OFFICERS SUSPECTED OF THEFT AND SMUGGLING

SPLIT, Sept 19 (Hina) - The Split-Dalmatia County civilian and military police requested of the County State Attorney's Office in Split to launch an investigation against 13 persons suspected of abusing their position and authority, illegal dealings and heavy theft. The Split County State Attorney's Office said in a statement on Friday that the police report said the 13 persons had organised the theft of expensive cars in the area around Zagreb since the end of February to the beginning of September 1997, and had, using military police uniforms, military badges and ID cards, transported the goods from a warehouse in Zagreb to Bosnia-Herzegovina. Eighteen of the 13 suspects are members of the 73rd battalion of the Military Police in Split, and the organiser of these operations was the commander of the same battalion. Two suspects are at large. All of the suspects, according to the police report, had stolen and transported to Bosnia at least 35 vehicles, mostly of the Mercedes, Audi, BMW and other makes. Their value has been estimated at about two million kuna (about US$ 317,460). The report accused the commander of the 73rd battalion of having organised the smuggling of sugar, cooking oil and other consumer goods from Bosnia-Herzegovina into Croatia. The report said that the suspects had used military vehicles, military police uniforms, ID cards and badges, even police escorts with rotation lights, and transported at least 150 tons of sugar and 2,000 litres of cooking oil from Neum to Split, where the goods were re-packaged and sold without them having to pay any customs duty and taxes, thus making over 500,000 kuna (around US$ 79,365) for their personal benefit. (hina) lm jn 191918 MET sep 97