Pripuz acquitted of charges in the Agram affair

Entrepreneur Petar Pripuz, who became the primary defendant in the Agram affair following the death of Milan Bandić, was acquitted of all charges on Thursday, ranging from favoritism in waste management to illegal employment, for which several close associates of Bandić from the city administration and companies were found guilty.

Judge Rahela Valentić began reading the non-final verdict shortly after 11 a.m. Sentences for those found guilty in the non-final ruling will be announced at the end of the verdict.

All defendants were acquitted of the charges that they had rigged waste management contracts for Pripuz’s companies, as well as for the exchange of city land with the company Bramgrad.

However, former head of the mayor’s expert service Vidoje Bulum, head of Bandić’s office Miro Laco, and former secretary of the Zagreb Sports Association Zdenko Antunović were found guilty of illegal employment at Bandić’s request.

For illegal employment, Antunović was found guilty on another count of the indictment along with former director of Čistoća Miljenko Benko and former director of ZET Ivan Tolić.

Laco and Antunović were also found guilty of using official cars for private purposes.

Of the 12 defendants remaining in the case at the announcement of the verdict, three appeared: Pripuz, Bulum, Laco, and the deputy head of the city Office for Property and Legal Affairs Ines Bravić.

Most defendants, including the primary defendant Pripuz, have maintained their innocence from the beginning, although some reached a plea agreement with Uskok during the proceedings.

For example, former head of the Zagreb Holding branch for managing sports facilities Dragutin Kosić and former head of the City Gas Company Ante Dodig admitted guilt for illegal employment and were sentenced by agreement at the beginning of the proceedings.

During the trial, Antunović admitted to illegal employment as well as to using an official car for private purposes.