ZAGREB, Jan 31 (Hina) - Croatia's runaway tycoon Josip Gucic and his son Zvonimir, for whom an international arrest warrant was issued eight months ago, surrendered to the Croatian judiciary on Wednesday. The Gucics arrived in Zagreb
from Germany aboard a regular flight this morning, after which, accompanied by their attorney Snjezana Gasic, they went to Zagreb County Court investigating judge Boris Ivancic. After they were questioned, Josip Gucic was taken to the Zagreb prison infirmary due to high blood pressure and diabetes while his son was transferred to the county prison at Remetinec. Under a ruling of June 1 last year, the Gucics were to be put in custody for a month. The Croatian authorities launched an investigation against the two in May last year due to suspicion of causing more than 194 million kuna-worth (US$23.37 million) damage to a company from the Gucic Group. Zvonimir was arrested on May 22 and four days befor
ZAGREB, Jan 31 (Hina) - Croatia's runaway tycoon Josip Gucic and his
son Zvonimir, for whom an international arrest warrant was issued
eight months ago, surrendered to the Croatian judiciary on
Wednesday.
The Gucics arrived in Zagreb from Germany aboard a regular flight
this morning, after which, accompanied by their attorney Snjezana
Gasic, they went to Zagreb County Court investigating judge Boris
Ivancic. After they were questioned, Josip Gucic was taken to the
Zagreb prison infirmary due to high blood pressure and diabetes
while his son was transferred to the county prison at Remetinec.
Under a ruling of June 1 last year, the Gucics were to be put in
custody for a month.
The Croatian authorities launched an investigation against the two
in May last year due to suspicion of causing more than 194 million
kuna-worth (US$23.37 million) damage to a company from the Gucic
Group. Zvonimir was arrested on May 22 and four days before the
arrest his father departed for Germany for medical treatment and
stayed there for eight months.
Following 48-hour detention, Zvonimir was released. The Zagreb
Municipal State Attorney's Office appealed against the decision.
Its appeal was accepted, the court ruled one-month detention for
the Gucics and an arrest warrant was issued for them, however,
Zvonimir was no longer on Croatia's territory. He had joined his
father in Germany. The Interior Ministry then issued an arrest
warrant for them through the Croatian Interpol office.
Since then, several other criminal charges have been pressed
against Josip Gucic for causing damage worth about one billion and
200,000 kuna to a number of companies.
Asked how the Gucics crossed the state border and reached the Zagreb
County Court unimpeded, Interior Ministry spokesman Slavko Rako
told Croatian Television their arrival was the result of a joint
operation by the Interior Ministry and Croatian Intelligence
Service.
The Gucics' attorney said her clients had surrendered of their own
accord and that Josip Gucic should not have reported to the police.
She added the police had not even questioned her client although the
investigation had been underway several months before Gucic left
for Germany for treatment.
During the questioning at the Zagreb County Court, Josip Gucic
denied all charges. Zvonimir Gucic gave his statement before he
left for Germany.
(hina) rml