PARLIAMENT TO BE ASKED TO STRIP PASALIC AND BELJO OF IMMUNITY

ZAGREB, Sept 23 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament's credentials and privileges commission will suggest to parliament to strip Ivic Pasalic (Croatian Bloc - HB) and Ante Beljo (Croatian True Revival - HIP) of immunity they enjoy as members of parliament after charges were pressed against them on suspicion that they embezzled about 12 million kuna from a Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party foundation while they were HDZ members and thus damaged the state budget. #L# The commission on Tuesday unanimously decided to strip the two MPs of immunity and allow the continuation of criminal proceedings against them. The state prosecution suspects that Beljo, who has recently joined HIP, and Pasalic, who is the president of the HB, embezzled funds which Croatian emigrants put into a bank account in Austria for Croatia's defence in the early 1990s. The account was opened by said foundation. Pasalic told reporters he had nothing against being stripped of immunity from prosecution, but he expressed regret over the fact that he had not been invited to attend the commission's session at which his case was considered. Pasalic also believes that the charges pressed against him are part of pre-election games. (hina) ms