Early this morning in Koprivnica, Damir Polančec, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, was arrested on suspicion of involvement in the Podravka stock affair. Following his arrest, the police escorted him to Zagreb for questioning.
Polančec’s lawyer Ante Nobilo confirmed this to HTV. USKOK officials are currently at his family home in Koprivnica.
Unofficially, it has been learned that Zagreb lawyer Zoran Marković, director of the company Fima Ami registered in Malta, has also been arrested. The Varazdin Fima transferred a package of 10.6% of Podravka shares to it.
In January, the former Deputy Prime Minister was served with a USKOK investigative order, officially informing him that he is under investigation for embezzlement at Podravka. The order relates to allegations made in the media by repentant Zvonko Beljo, according to which Polančec participated in the withdrawal of 10 million kuna from Podravka. It is worth noting that recently, Fima’s director Milan Horvat was released from custody. Also released were former Podravka leader Darko Marinac, former board members Saša Romac and Josip Pavlović. Only the former president of Podravka’s management, Zdravko Šestak, has had his detention extended. (www.hrt.hr)
