The seventh suspect, Juraj Parazajder, was released from hospital today and is expected to be questioned during the day, while the eighth suspect, Svjetlan Stanic, is not in Croatia and is out of the reach of the Croatian courts, Zagreb County Court spokesman Kresimir Devcic told reporters.
After he questions Parazajder, Judge Boris Ivancic is expected to make a decision, by midnight on Wednesday, when detention for the suspects expires, on the request of the Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK) to open an investigation and set detention for the eight suspects, which at this stage could last to up to one month.
The judge today questioned Josip Matanovic, Robert Pesa, Ivan Gotovac, Igor Petlevski, Asja Piplovic and Mladen Jandricek in connection with the investigation request. USKOK suspects the eight persons of taking and giving bribes, disclosing official secrets, conspiracy to commit a criminal act, and of aiding and abetting in taking bribes.
Most of the six suspects, including three HFP vice-presidents, stood mute in court, while Ivan Gotovac presented his defence for an hour and a half.
What the suspects were questioned about remains unknown because the decision declaring the proceedings confidential is in force as of today. According to the confidentiality request, submitted by USKOK, parties to the proceedings must not speak about the case in public, otherwise they will be held accountable, Devcic said.