Although she is suspected of keeping HRK 29 million for herself, Peternel has not told her side of the story, but unlike her and second suspect Davor Komericki, third suspect Igor Premilovac has told investigators everything he knows about fictitious deals and companies as well as the return of money to Croatia from a Czech company's bank account in Austria.
Because of his cooperation, Premilovac has been not been detained, whereas Peternel and Komericki have been placed in one month's custody to prevent them from tampering with witnesses, destroying evidence and repeating the crime.
A source close to the investigation said Premilovac described how, at the request of Peternel's long-standing associate Komericki, he convinced his acquaintances to set up four fictitious limited liability companies for fictitious deals with the HGK, mainly for non-existent marketing services.
Peternel was in charge of special projects, signing fake invoices for the payment of generous fees to those four companies.
Premilovac would deposit the illegal earnings into an Austrian bank account of the Remorker International company, of which he was director, so that he could withdraw the money and bring it back to Croatia. He would keep ten per cent, giving the rest to Komericki, who allegedly gave it to Peternel.
Premilovac's story has allegedly been confirmed by some of the witnesses questioned so far, including the owners of the fictitious companies, who were questioned before Peternel was arrested.
The prosecution is to question at least another 20 witnesses. It is unknown if HGK president Nadan Vidosevic has been questioned.
(EUR 1 = HRK 7.6)