In the statement, Sanader claims that he has never taken commission for Hypo Alpe Adria Bank loan approvals and that he has never received any kickbacks in other cases either.

"I never knowingly favoured anyone in the affairs of the Croatian government," Sanader said, claiming that all accusations against him were untrue.

Sanader stressed he had publicly refuted, on several occasions, accusations against him that surfaced in the Croatian media.

The former prime minister says that the accusations were also dismissed by the Croatian State Prosecutor's Office a number of years ago, when he was an opposition leader.

Sanader also underlined that during his term in office, the Croatian parliament adopted anti-corruption measures that were still effective.

According to the Croatian media, Sander is currently in the United States.

A family vacation has been planned for a while and has nothing to do with the ongoing investigation by the Prosecutor's Office, Sanader said in the statement forwarded to APA.