Slush funds

Ex HDZ minister testifies in Fimi Media case

16.07.2012 u 12:33

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The dismissal of criminal charges filed by former Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) minister Darko Milanovic against an unknown forger after indictee Branka Pavosevic (ex-HDZ accountant) testified that ex-HDZ chief Ivo Sanader ordered that Milinovic be given compensation from the party coffers in the monthly amount of HRK 10,000, was introduced in the Fimi Media case file on Monday.

The USKOK prosecutor in the Fimi Media case informed the court of the dismissed charges filed by Milinovic for forged receipts confirming the said payment to Milinovic, before Milinovic took the witness stand to tell his version of the events involving the alleged siphoning of funds from state institutions and public companies through the privately owned marketing firm Fimi Media.

Pavosevic said in her depositions that many HDZ officials had used the party's slush fund and that, at the orders of former prime minister and HDZ president Ivo Sanader, Milinovic, at the time the minister of health, had been receiving a monthly compensation of HRK 10,000. since June 2008.

Pavosevic backed her claims by providing two receipts confirming the payment of 20,000 and 30,000 kuna for which Milanovic claims were forged.

Milanovic said that the only money he ever received was a HRK70,000 donation for the reconstruction of the church in the Lika region. He reiterated this claim in court today.

Milanovic also testified of the decision-making procedure at session of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) Presidency.

Pavosevic, who was dismissed as the HDZ's head of accounting after auditors detected irregularities in the party's book-keeping in 2008, is suspected of conspiring with former Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, former customs chief Mladen Barisic and several ministers and CEOs of public companies to siphon funds from state institutions and public companies through the privately owned marketing firm Fimi Media.

Pavosevic confessed to the charges.

Also accused are the owner of the Fimi Media company Nevenka Jurak and former spokesman for Sanader, Ratko Macek.