RIJEKA'S "COCAINE AFFAIR" BEGINS RIJEKA, April 12 (Hina) - The trial of defendants in the so-called "cocaine affair" started before the Rijeka County Court on Monday. The "cocaine affair" stands for an attempt of a group of people to
smuggle large quantities of cocaine on ship from Ecuador to the northern Adriatic port of Rijeka. In April and May 1997, Croatian police discovered 557 kg of pure cocaine, worth about DM 100 million, at Rijeka's container terminal. The trial chamber, presided by judge Djurdja Jovanic, will try three defendants, of whom two - Slobodan Kasic and Mladen Pervan - will be tried in absentia. The third defendant, Tomislav Banovic, is charged with failing to report that the criminal act was being prepared and with helping the perpetrator after it was committed. Banovic is defending himself with silence. Kasic and Pervan, charged with drug abuse, could be sentenced to three to 15 years in prison, while Banovic could be
RIJEKA, April 12 (Hina) - The trial of defendants in the so-called
"cocaine affair" started before the Rijeka County Court on Monday.
The "cocaine affair" stands for an attempt of a group of people to
smuggle large quantities of cocaine on ship from Ecuador to the
northern Adriatic port of Rijeka.
In April and May 1997, Croatian police discovered 557 kg of pure
cocaine, worth about DM 100 million, at Rijeka's container
terminal.
The trial chamber, presided by judge Djurdja Jovanic, will try
three defendants, of whom two - Slobodan Kasic and Mladen Pervan -
will be tried in absentia.
The third defendant, Tomislav Banovic, is charged with failing to
report that the criminal act was being prepared and with helping the
perpetrator after it was committed. Banovic is defending himself
with silence.
Kasic and Pervan, charged with drug abuse, could be sentenced to
three to 15 years in prison, while Banovic could be fined or
sentenced to one to three years in prison.
(hina) rml