Ivan Cesarec and Danijel Nikolic of the Split-based company "Armator projekt", which cooperated with Brodosplit and Macek, and Macek's associate Hrvoje Matovinovic, suspected of money laundering, denied allegations from the prosecution's investigation request.
The prosecution claims that the three suspects took part in drawing up a feasibility study for the training of cadets on four tankers whose construction was agreed between Brodosplit and the German company Wessels, and for which they received money that was paid into bank accounts opened in Austria with Macek's help.
The investigating judge recently interviewed Macek, Vukasovic, Luetic, the CEO of the Brodotrogir shipyard, Mateo Tramontana, who is also suspected of money laundering that was covered up with the cadet training deal with Wessels, and Ivica Donko from Macek's company Iceberg. They all denied allegations from the investigation request, with Macek, Vukasovic and Luetic claiming that the contracts with Wessels were very good for Brodosplit.
Under the investigation request, the three main suspects in July 2005 knowingly and acting in agreement presented to the Brodosplit Supervisory Board an offer by Wessels for the construction of four tankers as the only serious offer, although they knew that there were two much better offers. They described two side letters signed along with the contracts for the construction of the tankers as part of normal procedure.
After Brodosplit paid USD 4.7 million into the bank account of four Cypriot companies in line with the contracts, the money was siphoned off to an Austrian bank account that was opened by Macek, the broker in the deal.
Macek drew the money from the bank account and transferred it to his account and the accounts belonging to Vukasovic, Luetic and other suspects.
Judge Cambj is expected to make a decision next week on whether he will open an investigation in the case and rule detention for the three main suspects.