In response to reporters' whether the ministry paid to Fimi Media HRK 26 million for a national road traffic safety campaign, Kirin said that he knew what they were interested in but that he was not going on to answer questions.
"I do not want to comment on anything until police investigators and USKOK finish their job," Kirin told reporters during his visit to the fair of war veterans' co-operatives in Virovitica.
Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, who opened the sixth fair of veterans' cooperatives, also declined to give more precise comments on this case.
Kosor said that judicial agencies enjoyed the full support from her cabinet in the fight against corruption.
"In the case of Ivica Kirin everything is on the table," Kosor said adding that this meant that all documents available, including some contracts concerning the traffic safety campaign should be thoroughly analysed.
She said that she had learned of some of those documents a few days ago.
"From 2001 to 2003 some contracts were awarded through direct deal, which the police, USKOK and other institutions should investigate, as they were about high amounts," Kosor said.
USKOK is the national anti-corruption investigative agency.
On Friday, National Police Director Oliver Grbic confirmed that the Interior Ministry used to be one of the clients of the private Fimi Media company, currently under investigation on suspicion of receiving millions of kuna from state companies and agencies in rigged tenders for public contracts.
"This is a big test for the police and I have been aware since day one that we must prove our credibility," Grbic said on Friday after a meeting in the Interior Ministry, while responding to reporters' questions about media reports that former Interior Minister Kirin is also suspected of having been involved in dealings with Fimi Media.
Grbic said the Interior Ministry had been only one of Fimi Media's clients and that some contracts had been signed for traffic safety.
"This criminal inquiry is nearing completion and I believe that the former minister and all who participated in the preparation of documents for signing will have an opportunity to give their explanations. However, I am aware that we must show the credibility of the police organisation in this case," Grbic said.
The investigation covers a total of 22 public companies and ministries, including the Interior Ministry.