The appeal by former Croatian prime minister Ivo Sanader against one-month detention which was set against him seven months ago at the start of an investigation which the anti-corruption agency USKOK launched against him in the Fimi Media case, has been denied.
Sanader's lawyers said their client was not a flight risk, which was stated as one of the reasons for his detention, stressing that last December, when he left Croatia he was not running from the Croatian judiciary, but he was taking a previously scheduled business trip. The Zagreb County Court however rejected those reasons, saying that the ex-PM continues to be a flight risk.
Another reason for Sanader's detention was a possibility of tampering with witnesses, which the defence lawyers did not appeal.
Investigating detention was set against Sanader last December when USKOK launched an investigation against him, suspecting him of abuse of office and conspiring with other suspects in the Fimi Media case to siphon money from ministries and state-owned companies, part of which he kept for himself, while the rest went to the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) slush fun.
One-month detention started running the day Sanader was extradited to Croatia and it will last until 18 August.
Last week Sanader stated his defence in the Fimi Media case before USKOK investigators. On Wednesday, Sanader will be deposed about allegations that he took a HRK 3.5 million commission from the Hypo bank.
