Asked by the press what stage the police investigation was in, the minister did not give a concrete answer, saying only that the police would do their best to investigate the allegations.
Claims by Hrvoje Petrac, one of the indictees in the kidnapping of retired general Vladimir Zagorec's son, have again raised suspicion about the unlawful management of funds intended for Croatia's defence, which the media have been speculating about for years.
In a retrial that started recently Petrac insinuated a number of times that Zagorec had acquired his property unlawfully, mentioning secret bank accounts, opened in foreign banks to collect funds for Croatia's defence.
Minister Kirin did not answer a reporter's question if police had already talked with Petrac.
The Chief State Prosecutor's Office said that it would order police to investigate Petrac's claims.
Asked if the case was detrimental to the ruling HDZ party and the government, because the alleged unlawful activities happened in the 1990s, when the HDZ was in power, Kirin answered in the affirmative.
"This is very harmful for the HDZ because the party is being linked with the criminal activities of individuals who have a name. Corruption and crime have no political orientation," the minister said.