Zagreb mayor indicted for corruption.
The Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organized Crime (USKOK) filed an indictment yesterday against Mayor of Zagreb Milan Bandić and several of his close associates. The indictment in the so-called Agram Affair contains more than 400 pages, and the court will decide whether to confirm it in the middle of the next year at the earliest. The indictment refers to various acts of corruption involving at least 20 million kuna, reports Vecernji List on December 12, 2015.
The indictment will first be sent to all 16 defendants, who will then have one month to respond to USKOK charges. Once the indictment is confirmed, a preliminary hearing will be convened which will, among other things, determine the start date for a possible trial.
In addition to the Mayor, the indictment includes Slobodan Ljubičić, former general manager of the Zagreb Holding municipal company, Petar Pripuz, the owner of private company CIOS, and many of the mayor’s closest associates.
The investigation was launched due to suspicions that the mayor and his associates caused financial damage to the city budget, and that he did not pay taxes on money received as political campaign donations during his campaign for the presidential elections in 2010. He is also accused of favouring CIOS and some other private companies giving them large contracts without public tenders, trading in influence, the illegal employment of people in city institution and Zagreb Holding, as well as for illegal use of official city cars for private purposes.
Bandić was arrested last year after the investigation was launched. He was later released on bail, but was returned briefly to prison again due to allegedly influencing witnesses while out of prison. Ultimately, in April, he was freed by the decision of the Constitutional Court.
Another indictment against Bandić was filed by USKOK in February this year. He was accused of providing illegal benefits to a non-governmental organization. However, in July, the court rejected the indictment as unfounded. There are also a number of other confirmed and unconfirmed indictments against Bandić’s associates who are charged for numerous other irregularities.
The indictment against Bandić could also have repercussions for current political situation in Croatia, since Bandić’s party has won two seats in parliament at the recent elections. Given the fact that it is still unclear who will form the parliamentary majority and the next Croatian government, the two votes he controls could be crucial.
