FORMER CROATIAN AMBASSADOR TO BELGRADE JAILED FOR EMBEZZLEMENT

ZAGREB, April 28 (Hina) - Former Croatian Ambassador to Belgrade Zvonimir Markovic was sentenced at the Zagreb County Court on Monday to three years in prison for transferring 670,000 kuna (EUR89,300) donated to the Embassy to his own private account. #L# Along with Markovic, the former CEO of the Split-based "Jadroplov" company, Niksa Giovanelli, was sentenced to two years because he signed with Markovic a contract on the donation to refurbish the Embassy. According to the verdict, the funds were transferred to Markovic's private account in May 1997 to pay of a housing loan. Explaining the sentence, Judge Miroslav Sovanj said that it had been established beyond doubt that Markovic and Giovanelli concluded the contract whereby "Jadroplov" donated about 670,000 kuna to the Croatian Foreign Ministry to refurbish the Embassy building in Belgrade. It was ascertained that prior to the contract the two came to a verbal agreement whereby the contract was to serve as a cover up to transfer the funds to Markovic's account in Privredna Banka Zagreb to pay off Markovic's housing loan with that bank, the judge said. Taken into account as extenuating circumstances were that he was a diplomat who worked for the benefit of the country, had not been previously sentenced, as well as his being elderly. The aggravating circumstances involved his transgressing against moral values and qualities that an ambassador should posses. Markovic and Giovanelli were sentenced for abuse of authority and were obliged, under threat of distress, to compensate the foreign ministry for the amount embezzled and to cover the costs of the court proceedings. The two have the right to appeal within 15 days of receiving the sentence in writing. Asked to comment on the sentence, Markovic said this was revenge by the current government and a "slap" to Croatia's judiciary. (hina) sp/ha sb