TWO OPEN SOCIETY EMPLOYEES RECEIVE ONE-YEAR SUSPENDED SENTENCES ( Editorial: --> 2731 )

( Editorial: --> 2731 ) ZAGREB, Nov 21 (Hina) - The Zagreb Municipal Court on Friday handed down one-year suspended sentences to the executive director and a staff member of the Foundation Open Society Institute for tax evasion and falsifying salary records. The court found that due to a decision by executive director Karmen Basic, between July and October 1995 foundation employees were paid a part of their salaries in cash, thus evading tax payment. Under Basic's instructions, accountant Ivanka Marton sent to tax authorities records showing only a part of the salaries, while she kept records of all cash payments on a separate list. Thus tax was paid only on one-third of the paid salaries. The two will not have to go to prison unless they commit another criminal offence in the next three years. The third suspect, business director Srdjan Dvornik, was acquitted over a lack of evidence. (hina) vm jn 211756 MET nov 97