Quoting an unnamed "highly placed source", Nova TV said that USKOK had opened a preliminary inquiry into the case, while some media said that the police were checking allegations from an anonymous report.
Two years ago Mesic bought the apartments for slightly less than two million kuna (approx. 250,000 euros) in cash, but he declined to reveal the name of his friend who had lent him the money, Nova TV said, adding that the apartments had been purchased after the expiry of his term as president.
When asked by the television station for comment, Mesic said: "There's no truth in it at all."
Mesic's office told Hina that none of the authorities had contacted the former president in connection with the purchase of the apartments and that he knew nothing about the preliminary inquiry being conducted by USKOK.