JUDGE QUESTIONS IVAN JARNJAK IN SLOBODNA DALMACIJA CASE

ZAGREB, Jan 15 (Hina) - An investigation into the illegal privatisation of the Split-based Slobodna Dalmacija daily continued on Tuesday at the Zagreb County Court with the questioning of a former interior minister, Ivan Jarnjak, who dismissed accusations that he had stopped the prosecution of persons suspected of fraud in the process of privatisation of the daily. "The hearing was very fair and short as I did not have much to say, except that I never ordered or forbade anyone anything in relation to the privatisation and what I am charged with," Jarnjak told reporters after he was questioned by judge Mirjana Rigljan. The Split Municipality Prosecutor's Office has charged Jarnjak with having abused his position and powers in his capacity as interior minister in the process of privatisation of Slobodna Dalmacija by stopping a criminal investigation against and processing of persons responsible for the illegal sale of the daily's shares. The investigating judge is to make a decision about launching an investigation against Jarnjak. The prosecution claims that the daily was sold to the Globus Group, owned by Miroslav Kutle, at the nominal and not real price, alleging the damage caused in the process amounts to at least three million euros. (hina) sb rml