ZAGREB MOBSTERS ZAGREB, Oct 4 (Hina) - The trial against members of Zagreb's underground is of great importance for Croatia and its justice system because proceedings against organised crime are being held for the first time in
Croatia, Justice Minister Stjepan Ivanisevic said in Zagreb Wednesday at a news conference he called ahead of the trial scheduled for October 14. Dismissing complaints by the defence counsel that the trial was a political proceeding, Ivanisevic said there were no political proceedings in Croatia, as the criminal law does not recognise political incrimination. "Members of the criminal organisation have been accused of felony, from murder, drug trafficking, racketeering and other crimes which have nothing to do with politics," Ivanisevic stressed. Asked about the veracity of information that some individuals in his ministry had provided "logistic support to the defendants", Ivanisevic said as far as he kn
ZAGREB, Oct 4 (Hina) - The trial against members of Zagreb's
underground is of great importance for Croatia and its justice
system because proceedings against organised crime are being held
for the first time in Croatia, Justice Minister Stjepan Ivanisevic
said in Zagreb Wednesday at a news conference he called ahead of the
trial scheduled for October 14.
Dismissing complaints by the defence counsel that the trial was a
political proceeding, Ivanisevic said there were no political
proceedings in Croatia, as the criminal law does not recognise
political incrimination.
"Members of the criminal organisation have been accused of felony,
from murder, drug trafficking, racketeering and other crimes which
have nothing to do with politics," Ivanisevic stressed.
Asked about the veracity of information that some individuals in
his ministry had provided "logistic support to the defendants",
Ivanisevic said as far as he knew, those were unfounded rumours.
The Minister's assistant in charge of executing legal sanctions,
Vjekoslav Jazbec, said there was no information that the defendants
had used cellular telephones to communicate among themselves or to
threaten some outside witnesses.
Some two dozen members of Zagreb's mafia was arrested at the end of
last year. Because of the large number of indictees, the trial will
be held within prison premises, not in the Zagreb County Court.
Commenting on the alleged establishment of a special organised
crime squad, Ivanisevic said he advocated the formation of a
special bureau within the justice system, which would deal with the
prosecution, investigation and police segments of a case.
A similar "anti-mob" bureau exists in Italy.
Asked when and how a new state prosecutor would be appointed, the
Justice Minister said the fundamental precondition was the
adoption of amendments to the Constitution, after which a new law on
the state prosecutor's office should be adopted.
As to who is to nominate the state prosecutor, this decision has not
been made yet, he added.
Ivanisevic dismissed the possibility that a constitutional
provision be included in the constitutional amendments which would
protect the dignity of the Homeland Defence War.
"The scope of constitutional changes has been defined by a motion of
the Government and the President of the Republic and we cannot stray
from it," Ivanisevic asserted.
Asked about possible proceedings against officials within the
justice system who allegedly his files in their "drawers",
Ivanisevic's deputy Ranko Marijan said a higher court was
authorised for the work of judges and the court, adding the basic
problem was that the State Judicial Council had not initiated
disciplinary actions against "unconscientious judges".
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