The commission fined Bandić with the maximum fine of HRK 40,000 for the bail paid by the lawyer and for donations received after the presidential election campaign was over.
The commission ruled that by receiving the donations amounting to more than HRK 24.7 million that he received in 2011 and 2012, Bandić was in violation of the Conflict of Interest Act. The commission underscored that Bandić had received donations of up to HRK 90,000 each from tens of donors, and this amount was more than the annual net income of some of those who paid those sums.
The commission also concluded then after Hanžeković’s law firm deposited bail money in the amount of 15 million kuna, Bandić found himself in a relationship of dependence on Hanžeković.
The High Administrative Court among other things concluded that the commission had erred in concluding that the donations paid after the election were an (inadmissible) gift, and explained that the money concerned was used to settle subsequent costs for electioneering.
As far as Hanžeković’s money is concerned, the court ruled that all citizens are equal before the law and that restricting an official “to receive bail money from anyone in criminal proceedings represents an unallowable restriction of their right to a defence.”
Media outlets claim that the court’s decision will have a drastic impact on the commission’s powers in addition to some previous decisions that were quashed including cases against former Croatian Democratic Union leader Tomislav Karamarko who stepped down after the case against him but also in the for cases against a former economy minister Martina Dalić, Finance Minister Zdravko Marić and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.
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