Prime Minister Sanader Supported Bajić’s Request for Review of Suspicious Privatizations

Prime Minister Ivo Sanader supported the request of the Chief State Attorney Mladen Bajić, who asked the Croatian Privatization Fund (HFP) to provide data on all privatization processes in which all company assets were not listed in the asset inventory in the conversion report.

"I believe that the request for data from the State Attorney’s Office of the Republic of Croatia can only help to expedite these matters in accordance with regulations. Therefore, as a government, we fully support their activities and the activities of all other public administration bodies," emphasized Prime Minister Sanader at the beginning of today’s session of the Government of the Republic of Croatia. He reminded that the government had obligated all bodies and companies back in August of last year to take measures for the registration of ownership in land registries. Based on these conclusions, the Law on Ownership was also amended, in which the principle of trust in land registries was suspended until January 2010 in order to protect state ownership, added Sanader.

"I remind you that after 2010 we will not be able to return properties that someone registered in the land registries in their name without basis. Therefore, all ministries have been instructed to engage in this significant task, which includes the Croatian Privatization Fund," said the Prime Minister. He also emphasized that the registration of ownership is extremely important because no serious investor will engage in investments if they are not sure who owns the property and whether they will be able to protect their investment.

"The State Attorney’s Office, while working on the ‘Maestro’ case, has evidently come to the knowledge that it concerns large assets and properties that are not recorded in the documents. Therefore, it was obliged to request the aforementioned report, of which I was timely informed," said Prime Minister Sanader. He noted that irregularities in the disposal of properties that did not enter the core capital are also shown by the reports of the State Audit Office, so the government seeks to take all measures to protect that property, i.e., to prevent its illegal alienation.

Data on suspicious privatization processes was requested by Chief State Attorney Mladen Bajić from the HFP on August 27. According to unofficial sources, the HFP is expected to provide the requested data by mid-September, after which the Prosecutor’s Office will decide on further steps. (Hina)