ZAGREB, Nov 7 (Hina) - Zagreb County Court investigating judge Zoran Luburic on Thursday questioned a former state attorney, Petar Sale, who is facing an investigation request due to suspicion that contrary to his powers he had
confirmed in a court of law false claims by the "Jambo" company from Metkovic, obliging the state to pay the company around 17.4 million kuna.
ZAGREB, Nov 7 (Hina) - Zagreb County Court investigating judge
Zoran Luburic on Thursday questioned a former state attorney, Petar
Sale, who is facing an investigation request due to suspicion that
contrary to his powers he had confirmed in a court of law false
claims by the "Jambo" company from Metkovic, obliging the state to
pay the company around 17.4 million kuna. #L#
The Zagreb Municipal Prosecutor's Office has also requested an
investigation against the company's owners Stipe Gabric-Jambo and
Bozo Gabric. All three are suspected of abusing authority in
business operations.
The investigating judge said after the questioning, which lasted
around an hour and a half, that Sale had pleaded not guilty.
Sale's attorney Miroslav Separovic told Hina Sale explained that he
had not committed the act he was charged with and therefore hoped
that the investigating judge would not accept the investigation
request.
The two other suspects should be questioned at the Dubrovnik County
Court, after which investigating judge Luburic should decide about
initiating an investigation.
The Defence Ministry's crime police department last June pressed
charges against the former state attorney. At the time, Sale was
suspected of having authorised, contrary to a recommendation by the
Ministry, claims by "Jambo" towards the Ministry, thus confirming
that it owed money to the company. In line with a contract signed by
the ministry and the company on 31 December 1999, the debt no longer
existed, ministry officials claim. Sale's authorisation resulted
in a ruling obliging the ministry to pay the requested amount, which
the ministry has refused to do so far.
(hina) rml sb