PULA, Jan 28 (Hina) - Former Tourism Minister Ivan Herak, suspected of having committed the criminal act of abuse of office and powers, was taken before an investigative judge of Pula County Court on Friday afternoon after he was
questioned in the police command in the northern coastal town of Pula. "I have nothing to say. Everything is under control," Herak told reporters before entering the building of the County Court. The Istria County Police superintendent, Milan Pember, County State Attorney Vlatko Nuic, the head of the crime police, Dragutin Cestar, and an official with the department for prevention of white collar crime, Emir Lojic, on Friday held a news conference to inform about yesterday's arrest of former Tourism Minister Ivan Herak and the owner of the Labin-based "Mini pam" trade business, Djani Bazon, as well as to notify of the subsequent call for questioning of Antun Golik, a former ass
PULA, Jan 28 (Hina) - Former Tourism Minister Ivan Herak, suspected
of having committed the criminal act of abuse of office and powers,
was taken before an investigative judge of Pula County Court on
Friday afternoon after he was questioned in the police command in
the northern coastal town of Pula.
"I have nothing to say. Everything is under control," Herak told
reporters before entering the building of the County Court.
The Istria County Police superintendent, Milan Pember, County
State Attorney Vlatko Nuic, the head of the crime police, Dragutin
Cestar, and an official with the department for prevention of white
collar crime, Emir Lojic, on Friday held a news conference to inform
about yesterday's arrest of former Tourism Minister Ivan Herak and
the owner of the Labin-based "Mini pam" trade business, Djani
Bazon, as well as to notify of the subsequent call for questioning
of Antun Golik, a former assistant to Tourism Minister and the
chairman of the management of the "Imperial" joint stock company on
the island of Rab.
These three suspects and another one still unknown from a tourist
and trade business in Dalmatia, devised a plan to use the money
allocated by Tourism Minister (for tourist purposes) for covering
debt service liabilities which the "Midiinvest" limited liability
company, owned by Herak's wife Daniela, had toward the Rijecka
Bank, under a contract on a short-term loan, valued 215,000 kuna (or
over 28,000 US dollars.)
In 1999 these suspects managed to transfer 1,008,453.86 kuna (over
134,000 US dollars) to accounts of Rijecka Bank to cover the
aforementioned settlement of the short-term loan of the
"Midinvest" company, owned by Mrs. Herak.
The then minister Herak abused powers and office for gain of his
family and others.
Antun Golik and Djani Bazon who helped him in that intention, did
the same crime, officials told reporters in Pula.
County State Attorney Vlatko Nuic said while he was trying to settle
the case in relation with "Labinkomerc" firm he had noticed
activities that should be inquired. Nuic added that some facts had
been checked for some time but responsible authorities waited for
the expiry of Herak's immunity so that the entire probe could be
conducted in cooperation with County Attorney's office and
police.
The former assistant to Tourism Minister, Antun Golik was taken to
Zagreb police on Thursday but his health deteriorated during the
questioning and he had to be hospitalised in Zagreb due to heart
problems. Golik's appearance in Istria County Police command was
announced for Friday evening, however.
(hina) ms