JUSTICE MINISTER VISITS PRISON IN LEPOGLAVA

LEPOGLAVA, Feb 13 (Hina) - Croatian Justice Minister Ingrid Anticevic Marinovic on Wednesday said many objections were made as to abuse and corruption in judiciary, but few people wanted to provide evidence for their claims. One should not compromise anyone's reputation without providing evidence, the minister told reporters while touring the Lepoglava penitentiary. She called on those who have complaints to directly address her and the State Prosecutor with evidence. She said she did not want generalised statements about corruption, irregularities and illegal treatment in prisons. "I want concrete evidence, and such cases will be very carefully investigated and adequate action taken," the minister added. She expressed satisfaction with the situation in the Lepoglava prison and added violations of some rules would be significantly reduced once the institute of judge-executive was introduced. "This institute was entirely unknown to our penal system. It enables the supervision of the execution of prison sentence, so that it is no longer only in the hands of administration and executive authority, but there is also court supervision," the minister said. Anticevic Marinovic will visit other correctional institutions and prisons in Croatia as, she said, the prison system was within her jurisdiction. (hina) np sb