FORMER ZAGREB COUNTY PROSECUTOR CLAIMS HE DIDN'T RECEIVE BRIBE

ZAGREB, June 12 (Hina) - A former Zagreb County prosecutor, Krunoslav Canjuga, on Thursday dismissed before an investigating judge accusations by the Office for the Prevention of Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK) that he had received bribes from Zagreb attorney Mirko Batarelo and revealed official secrets to him. #L# Addressing Zagreb County Court investigating judge Ratko Scekic in the presence of his attorney, Canjuga said that he had never received bribes in exchange for services in his capacity as county prosecutor and that he had never given away any official secret. Having said so, Canjuga used his legal right to stand mute. Canjuga's attorney Mate Matic asked for the exclusion of transcripts of tapped phone conversations between Canjuga and Batarelo, based on which the USKOK filed an investigation request. Matic said the evidence had been unlawfully obtained and that the judge should disregard it when deciding whether to launch an investigation. Officials of the USKOK opposed the request, stating that the evidence was collected legally. Batarelo, who is suspected of the criminal act of giving bribes, did not appear in court because his court summons was not delivered properly. In late May, the USKOK requested that an investigation be launched against Canjuga on suspicion that he received bribes from Batarelo, informing him in return about proceedings and decisions by the County Prosecution regarding cases in which Batarelo represented the defendants. (hina) rml sb