The trial of the accused for corruption in the Croatian Privatization Fund (HFP) in the Maestro case is scheduled for November 10, and the proceedings will be led by Judge Ivana Kršul at the Zagreb County Court.
Court spokesperson Krešimir Devčić confirmed to Hina that the judge has scheduled the main hearing for November 10 and 11, when the reading of the indictment and the pleas of the eight accused regarding their guilt are expected. In the anti-corruption operation Maestro, ten individuals were caught, and after the indictment was raised, the proceedings were separated for former Deputy Fund Director Ivan Gotovac and fugitive entrepreneur Svjetlan Stanić. They will be tried by Judge Vladimir Pavleković, who will schedule the start of the main hearing once the case file returns from the Supreme Court. That court is expected to decide tomorrow on Gotovac’s appeal regarding the extension of his detention, which has lasted more than 15 months.
Before Judge Kršul, the former deputy directors of the Fund, Josip Matanović and Robert Peša, the head of the Fund’s Real Estate Sales Service Igor Petlevski, senior advisor in that Service Darko Mrkonjić, lawyers Juraj Parazajder and Asja Piplović, and her associate Mladen Jandriček, an entrepreneur from Osijek and associate professor at the local Faculty of Economics Mane Medić, will find themselves in the dock. They are charged by USKOK with receiving and giving bribes, assisting in receiving bribes, issuing and unlawfully obtaining business secrets, associating to commit criminal offenses, abuse of position and authority, and aiding and inciting such abuses. (H)
