ZAGREB, Nov 11 (Hina) - The trial against two retired Croatian generals Vladimir Zagorac and Matko Kakarigi charged for embezzlement that caused damage of over 12 million kuna (1.7 million euros) to the Defence Ministry, continued on
Monday with the testimony of former Defence Minister Pavao Miljavac.
ZAGREB, Nov 11 (Hina) - The trial against two retired Croatian
generals Vladimir Zagorac and Matko Kakarigi charged for
embezzlement that caused damage of over 12 million kuna (1.7
million euros) to the Defence Ministry, continued on Monday with
the testimony of former Defence Minister Pavao Miljavac. #L#
Miljavac testified at the Zagreb County Court about a contentious
holiday house belonging to the former vice president of the Zagreb
City Assembly, Antun Sporer. The reconstruction of the holiday
house began in 1997 at the approval of Miljavac who was then the
chief-of-staff of the armed forces.
Miljavac stated that the late president, Franjo Tudjman,
intervened and asked that the reconstruction of Sporer's holiday
house, located near Novigrad, be sped up. Sporer demanded
compensation because during the war the Croatian Army occupied the
house and later devastated it.
The prosecution, however, claims that the accused knew that the
house was not devastated by the Croatian army but rather Serb rebels
during the Serb occupation of Novigrad. In spite of this fact,
100,000 kuna (EUR13,500) was used to reconstruct the house even
though the Defence Ministry was only permitted to finance the
reconstruction of houses that were damaged by the army.
Miljavac also stated that he did not know anything about the other
charges against the defendants relating to embezzlement.
The trial will resume on Tuesday.
(hina) sp it sb