ZAGREB, June 13 (Hina) - While reviewing files stored in the Service for the Protection of the Constitutional Order (SZUP), Croatia's Interior Ministry found evidence on a few cases of illegal bugging of telephones by former
authorities, Interior Minister Sime Lucin told the Croatian Television's flagship news programme on Monday evening. "Settling the files of SZUP in Rijeka, for instance, we found the proof that there were a dozen unauthorised cases of tapping, mainly of telephones of opposition politicians at the time. In Zagreb, amongst other things, Stjepan Mesic was tapped," Lucin said. This proves that the SZUP did not fulfil its function to protect law and legal system but it was used for the protection of the then authorities, Lucin claimed. Due to various illegal procedures, 18 SZUP employees have been processed since the change in authorities. In last months SZUP got new head, and about
ZAGREB, June 13 (Hina) - While reviewing files stored in the Service
for the Protection of the Constitutional Order (SZUP), Croatia's
Interior Ministry found evidence on a few cases of illegal bugging
of telephones by former authorities, Interior Minister Sime Lucin
told the Croatian Television's flagship news programme on Monday
evening.
"Settling the files of SZUP in Rijeka, for instance, we found the
proof that there were a dozen unauthorised cases of tapping, mainly
of telephones of opposition politicians at the time. In Zagreb,
amongst other things, Stjepan Mesic was tapped," Lucin said.
This proves that the SZUP did not fulfil its function to protect law
and legal system but it was used for the protection of the then
authorities, Lucin claimed.
Due to various illegal procedures, 18 SZUP employees have been
processed since the change in authorities. In last months SZUP got
new head, and about 70 percent of senior staff was changed.
The heads of almost all SZUP centres on the ground have been
replaced, and a ban has been issued on tapping phones of public
figures, celebrities and politicians, the Minister added.
Lucin said that last year saw the equal number of legal and illegal
cases of the bugging.
Commenting on the cooperation between police, the judiciary and the
State Prosecutor, Minister Lucin assessed that the cooperation was
not very successful in some cases. Lucin described State Prosecutor
Berislav Zivkovic's offer to resign as good.
Lucin announced that first results would soon be made public of
inquires in financial transactions regarding the purchase of the
"Vecernji List" daily.
The finance police finished an investigation in the soccer club
"Dinamo", and the crime police have assumed further proceedings,
Lucin added.
(hina) jn ms