COURT REFUSES REQUEST THAT ERCEGOVIC BE KEPT IN DETENTION

ZAGREB, Aug 11 (Hina) - Representatives of the Zagreb County Court on Friday said the court had rejected a proposal by the State Prosecutor's Office for the court to rule on detention for Ljerka Ercegovic and Vinko Hrkac, suspects in the Croatian Postal Bank (HPB) case. However, the court accepted the prosecution's proposal that an investigation be initiated against all suspects in the case. The prosecution requested detention for Ercegovic and Hrkac so that they could not influence witnesses and tamper with evidence. Investigating judge Mirjana Rigljan yesterday ended her first hearing, having questioned all 10 suspects in the HPB case, including Ercegovic, the former chairwoman of the HPB management board, who is undergoing medical treatment at a Zagreb hospital. Ercegovic is suspected of causing damage of 34 million kuna to the HPB by abusing her powers in business operations and signing contracts on the issuing of bank guarantees and loans to companies from the Globus Group, owned by Miroslav Kutle, at Kutle's inducement. One of the persons who are suspected of being Ercegovic's accessories is Dubrovnik Mayor Vido Bogdanovic. (hina) rml