MOSTAR: INVESTIGATORS TRACK DOWN MONEY FROM HERCEGOVACKA BANKA

MOSTAR, Nov 7 (Hina) - Investigators working on the case of Mostar's Hercegovacka Banka have tracked down DM54 million given by the Croatian government as assistance funds for Bosnia-Herzegovina's Croat Defence Council (HVO), a spokesman for the bank's provisional management said during a visit to Mostar on Wednesday. Spokesman Johan Verheyden did not offer any other details about the investigation. He said it was difficult to track down the money because the transaction had been made from another state (Croatia). The DM54 million is only one element in the investigation into the Hercegovacka Banka case, which is being conducted by the bank's provisional management, appointed by the international community's High Representative to the country, Wolfgang Petritsch. Commenting on unlawful operations in the bank, Verheyden mentioned the company Antonio Trade, owned by Ante Ljubic, which acquired 13.5 percent of the bank's shares with fictitious funds. Asked whether Croatia's State Prosecutor Radovan Ortynski had been given documentation on cooperation between the Hercegovacka Banka and Croatia's Privredna Banka during his recent visit to Sarajevo and if there were elements for the prosecution of individuals in Croatia, Verheyden said shortly he did not have any information on Ortynski being contacted in Sarajevo in that regard. Avis Benes, spokeswoman for the Mostar Office of the High Representative, said the OHR would check if there had been any exchange of information with Ortynski regarding the Hercegovacka Banka. (hina) rml