ZAGREB POLICE OFFICIAL ZAGREB, Feb 4 (Hina) - Branka Bolkovic, spokeswoman for the former majority-owner of Croatia's largest press distributor 'Tisak', Miroslav Kutle, on Friday issued a statement on yesterday's statement by Zagreb
police spokesman Josip Begovic, which was carried by Croatian Television, saying a completely wrong picture had been created regarding Kutle's return to Croatia, which damages his reputation and dignity. Dismissing claims that an arrest warrant had been issued for Kutle and that he had been at large, Bolkovic said Kutle had been in contact with the police from the start of his visit to Slovenia. Kutle had agreed with the police on the time and place of his crossing the Croatian-Slovene border. On the border, he met with police officials, and under their escort, was taken in a civilian vehicle to the Zagreb central police station, she added. Supporting her claim that Kutle acted "transparentl
ZAGREB, Feb 4 (Hina) - Branka Bolkovic, spokeswoman for the former
majority-owner of Croatia's largest press distributor 'Tisak',
Miroslav Kutle, on Friday issued a statement on yesterday's
statement by Zagreb police spokesman Josip Begovic, which was
carried by Croatian Television, saying a completely wrong picture
had been created regarding Kutle's return to Croatia, which damages
his reputation and dignity.
Dismissing claims that an arrest warrant had been issued for Kutle
and that he had been at large, Bolkovic said Kutle had been in
contact with the police from the start of his visit to Slovenia.
Kutle had agreed with the police on the time and place of his
crossing the Croatian-Slovene border. On the border, he met with
police officials, and under their escort, was taken in a civilian
vehicle to the Zagreb central police station, she added.
Supporting her claim that Kutle acted "transparently" toward the
police, Bolkovic said one of Kutle's attorneys around 2 p.m.
informed the Zagreb County Court investigating judge Mirjana
Rigljan that his client would contact her during the day. Rigljan
wrote a note with the details of Kutle's return to Croatia and
included it into the court file, Bolkovic said.
In another statement issued today, Bolkovic commented on
statements given this morning by the head of the Zagreb crime police
sector, Zdravko Senicnjak, regarding Kutle's arrest.
Bolkovic said she would forward a request to the new Interior
Minister and Premier regarding the replacement of Senicnjak, who,
according to her, on behalf of the Interior Ministry publicly
declared political persecution as part of the work of part of the
Croatian police force.
Some media have already prejudiced Kutle's guilt treating police
reports and statements by co-defendants as the final truth about
the activities of 'Globus' group and Kutle, she said.
This is especially visible in the way statements by Interior
Ministry officials are carried, because statements for which there
is no evidence whatsoever are being quoted as the factual truth,
Bolkovic said.
Kutle and another nine persons, former members of the 'Tisak'
management, directors of his companies and his business partners,
are suspected of having abused their offices in business activities
and caused damage to 'Tisak' amounting to about 48 million kuna
(about US$6.4 million).
(hina) rml