LS, IDS FORWARD BILL ON PRIVATISATION AUDITING INTO PARLIAMENT

ZAGREB, Oct 11 (Hina) - MPs of two ruling coalition parties on Tuesday forwarded into parliamentary procedure a bill on the audit and control of privatisation after assessing the government was plagued by a conflict of interests and no will to adopt on the right assumptions a long announced law on privatisation auditing. The Liberal Party and the Istrian Democratic Assembly, two of the ruling coalition's six parties, believe the prevalent public opinion is that the only way to economically revive Croatia is by auditing privatisation, prosecuting those responsible, and launching new privatisation. The bill moved by the two parties envisages penalty for people responsible of hiding or destroying evidence and facts important for the auditing, as well as examining the role institutions play in the privatisation process. The bill suggests establishing the course of privatisation for every company individually, the amount and origin of funds which served to assume ownership over companies undergoing privatisation, instances of capital outflow and money laundering done via companies in privatisation, as well as instances of tax evasion and illegal financial transactions. The movers suggest taking legal measures against persons in companies and state institutions if illegal activities are established to have taken place. These measures would include taking away personal property, custody, and refunds. A privatisation audit and control agency would be the competent body for carrying out the audits, while the finance police would be in charge of the operative part. The two parties also suggest not filing for bankruptcy in companies undergoing auditing. (hina) ha jn