REQUEST FOR PROBE INTO PETRAC DISMISSED

ZAGREB, March 18 (Hina) - An investigating judge of the Zagreb County Court Zoran Luburic disagreed with a request by the Office for the Prevention of Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK) that the investigation into the kidnapping of the son of retired Croatian General Vladimir Zagorec be extended to Hrvoje Petrac, the County Court President, Bozidar Rumenjak, said on Thursday.#L# "The investigating judge disagrees with the request that the investigation be extended to Hrvoje Petrac because he believes that evidence which USKOK has submitted is insufficient to conclude that there is a founded suspicion that Petrac was involved in the kidnapping.," Rumenjak told Hina. He said the final decision would be made by the panel of judges on Thursday. Appeals to the decision of the penal of judges could be filed with the Supreme Court. USKOK, which suspects Petrac of being at the helm of the criminal organisation which kidnapped Zagorec's minor son on February 23, also demands detention for Petrac and the issuing of an international arrest warrant given that he is unavailable to the police. (Hina) it sb