OPATIJA, Nov 17 (Hina) - In the period between 1992 and 1997, 3,316 cases of corruption were reported in Croatia. Final sentences were passed in 570 cases and prison sentences in only 14 of those cases. These data were presented at a
two-day seminar on the role of the media in fighting corruption, which started in Opatija on Saturday. The seminar was organised for reporters by Transparency International Croatia and the Croatian Legal Centre. The purpose of the seminar is to acquaint journalists and the public about the problem and forms of corruption and the role of the media in its prevention. A Zagreb Law School professor, Davor Derencinovic, said that of the 570 cases in which final sentences had been passed, only 14 had been punished with prison. Probation was ruled in 430 cases, while in the remaining 140 cases the court decided on fines or prison sentences lasting between six months to a year. After
OPATIJA, Nov 17 (Hina) - In the period between 1992 and 1997, 3,316
cases of corruption were reported in Croatia. Final sentences were
passed in 570 cases and prison sentences in only 14 of those cases.
These data were presented at a two-day seminar on the role of the
media in fighting corruption, which started in Opatija on Saturday.
The seminar was organised for reporters by Transparency
International Croatia and the Croatian Legal Centre.
The purpose of the seminar is to acquaint journalists and the public
about the problem and forms of corruption and the role of the media
in its prevention.
A Zagreb Law School professor, Davor Derencinovic, said that of the
570 cases in which final sentences had been passed, only 14 had been
punished with prison.
Probation was ruled in 430 cases, while in the remaining 140 cases
the court decided on fines or prison sentences lasting between six
months to a year.
After 1997, the number of reported cases of corruption increased
significantly, but there is still no systematic information on the
verdicts.
"The existence of a tacit agreement about bribery alone constitutes
corruption," Derencinovic said.
The imbalance between the sentences and the number of reported
cases stems from the "secret nature" of corruption as well as the
lack of trust in institutions of authority and the judiciary. On the
whole, both those who receive and give bribe are punished, but those
receiving it are given lighter sentences if they report.
Bojan Dobovsek, a professor at the Ljubljana Police Academy, said
political support, the judiciary and the public were crucial for
the fight against corruption.
Transparency International Croatia president Josip Kregar said the
role of journalists in the fight against corruption was to mobilise
the public so that it could affect changes in the society and change
the widespread opinion that corruption cannot be prevented.
(hina) rml