ZAGREB, Dec 4 (Hina) - Protected witness Tomislav Marinac continued his testimony Monday before the Zagreb Municipal Court in the trial against Zagreb's criminal organisation, also known as "Zagreb mobsters", describing how he opted
for cooperation with the prosecution. Despite numerous criminal acts, including drug trafficking, I never felt a part of any criminal organisation. "I did not condone all their acts. I could 'swallow' the drug trafficking, but not murders, whether the victims were criminals or innocent passers-by," Marinac told the court. "At the beginning I never thought of becoming a witness for the prosecution, as I didn't know this option existed, but I knew one day I had to appear before a court and plead guilty to charges," Marinac said, adding he had also feared for this family's safety. Having arrived at the Remetinec penitentiary and having learnt his attorney's expenses had been taken c
ZAGREB, Dec 4 (Hina) - Protected witness Tomislav Marinac continued
his testimony Monday before the Zagreb Municipal Court in the trial
against Zagreb's criminal organisation, also known as "Zagreb
mobsters", describing how he opted for cooperation with the
prosecution.
Despite numerous criminal acts, including drug trafficking, I
never felt a part of any criminal organisation. "I did not condone
all their acts. I could 'swallow' the drug trafficking, but not
murders, whether the victims were criminals or innocent passers-
by," Marinac told the court.
"At the beginning I never thought of becoming a witness for the
prosecution, as I didn't know this option existed, but I knew one
day I had to appear before a court and plead guilty to charges,"
Marinac said, adding he had also feared for this family's safety.
Having arrived at the Remetinec penitentiary and having learnt his
attorney's expenses had been taken care of, Marinac said, he
realised this had been done in exchange for his silence.
According to Marinac, he saw his attorney Danko Drakulic very
rarely, and on one occasion Drakulic brought along two attorneys
for other indictees. "This was done to keep me a part of the team,
and make sure I kept silent," he asserted.
During his testimony, he stated the prison warden was a "player" for
the organisation and refused to see Marinac when he requested a
meeting on two occasions.
His final decision to cooperate with the prosecution was made after
being transferred to a prison in Sisak. "I fired my attorney Danko
Drakulic as I did not want him to know of my decision, and finally,
with the help of my new state appointed attorney, I contacted the
prosecution," Marinac said.
He primarily requested protection for his family which was,
subsequent to his decision to cooperate with the prosecution, the
target of many threats and blackmail.
Danko Drakulic, now the defence attorney for defendant Radovan
Stetic, objected to Marinac's testimony and requested it be stroke
from the transcript. He argued the testimony was in violation of
attorney-client confidentiality. The court will make its decision
on the motion on Tuesday, before Marinac continues to testify.
(hina) lml