ZAGREB, Sept 17 (Hina) - The trial of two retired generals, Matko Kakarigi and Vladimir Zagorac, and another three persons indicted for economic embezzlement in the Croatian Defence Ministry, amounting to about 16 million kuna
(EUR2.19 million), started before the Zagreb County Court on Monday.
ZAGREB, Sept 17 (Hina) - The trial of two retired generals, Matko
Kakarigi and Vladimir Zagorac, and another three persons indicted
for economic embezzlement in the Croatian Defence Ministry,
amounting to about 16 million kuna (EUR2.19 million), started
before the Zagreb County Court on Monday. #L#
Apart from Kakarigi, former head of the Defence Ministry's
construction administration, and Zagorac, former assistant
defence minister for equipment and supply, also indicted are
Kakarigi's assistant Juraj Vojkovic, former deputy chairman of the
Zagreb City Assembly Antun Sporer, and former assistant director of
the ACI marina in Split Leo Kuret.
All five indictees entered pleas of not guilty.
Due to the absolute statute of limitations, Kakarigi's defence
attorney Vesna Alaburic demanded the panel of judges discontinue
proceedings against her client on the count stating that he abused
his powers by performing his duties unconscientiously.
Under said count, Kakarigi damaged the Defence Ministry by 3.8
million kuna (EUR0.52 million) by approving a payment to the
"Vinkuran" company for the building of 12 apartments in
Jastrebarsko, which have not been finished.
Considering that the absolute statute of limitations for this
criminal act applies after six years, and Kakarigi allegedly
committed the fraud by April 1996, the panel of judges presided by
Judge Drazen Tripalo dropped criminal proceedings against Kakarigi
on this count of the indictment. Following this decision, the total
damage included in the indictment has been reduced from about 16
million to 12.1 million kuna (EUR1.65 million).
The trial resumes on November 16.
(hina) it(hina) it sp