CORRUPTION, ORGANISED CRIME PREVENTION OFFICE BEGINS WORKING

ZAGREB, Dec 4 (Hina) - The Office for the Prevention of Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK) began working Tuesday. Chief State Prosecutor Radovan Ortynski appointed his former first deputy Dragan Novosel acting head of the Office. Novosel told Hina he would head the Office for two to three weeks, until USKOK became fully organised. A permanent head should then be elected, preferably a younger person, he said. Novosel added the results of the struggle against organised crime and corruption could not be expected immediately. "The experiences of other countries which have similar specialised offices tell that results are yielded only after a longer period of time," he stressed. The USKOK will be competent for abuse in bankruptcy proceedings, disloyal competition, abuse in the execution of state authority, illegal mediation, giving and taking bribes, association for the purpose of committing criminal acts, and acts, punishable with more than three years in prison, which were committed in two or more countries. The Office is also responsible for crimes including the covering up of illegally earned money, the obstruction of evidence, duress towards a judiciary official, preventing an official person in performing an official duty, and attacking official persons. County courts in Osijek, Rijeka, Split and Zagreb, where special investigating bureaux will be set up, have jurisdiction over these criminal acts. (hina) np sb