Post by boris on Jun 21, 2011 10:40:21 GMT 1
ZAGREB, June 21 - Croatia is investigating allegations that former prime minister Ivo Sanader was paid a 10 million euro ($14 million) bribe by Hungary's MOL for the management rights of Croatia's INA energy group INA, local media reported on Tuesday.
The investigation also targets Zsolt Hernadi, chief executive of MOL , and former Croatian deputy prime minister Damir Polancec, the reports said, citing sources close to the anti-graft police unit USKOK.
USKOK's spokesman was not available for comment and a spokeswoman for the state prosecution service said: "We cannot make any comment on media reports, or on that particular case."
MOL's spokesperson Domokos Szollar said the company categorically rejected all the allegations, saying there had not been "any payment, or agreement on any possible payment, with any player or decision-maker in Croatian politics."
MOL is the biggest shareholder in INA with a 47.46-percent stake and an option to buy an additional 1.6 percent. The Croatian states owns 44.84 percent.
The relations between the two biggest shareholders have been strained recently regarding management rights in INA. The government proposed this month fresh talks with MOL on their shareholder agreement.
Sanader, who is in custody in Austria awaiting extradition to Croatia over a number of graft investigations, unexpectedly stepped down in the summer of 2009.
A few months before that, the government and MOL signed a revised shareholders' agreement on INA.
Sanader, 57, is wanted over allegations of abuse of office and corruption, including into accusations he was behind a plan to create slush funds for his conservative HDZ party during his term as prime minister from 2004-9.
Sanader has denied any wrongdoing.
Incredible. what next?
The investigation also targets Zsolt Hernadi, chief executive of MOL , and former Croatian deputy prime minister Damir Polancec, the reports said, citing sources close to the anti-graft police unit USKOK.
USKOK's spokesman was not available for comment and a spokeswoman for the state prosecution service said: "We cannot make any comment on media reports, or on that particular case."
MOL's spokesperson Domokos Szollar said the company categorically rejected all the allegations, saying there had not been "any payment, or agreement on any possible payment, with any player or decision-maker in Croatian politics."
MOL is the biggest shareholder in INA with a 47.46-percent stake and an option to buy an additional 1.6 percent. The Croatian states owns 44.84 percent.
The relations between the two biggest shareholders have been strained recently regarding management rights in INA. The government proposed this month fresh talks with MOL on their shareholder agreement.
Sanader, who is in custody in Austria awaiting extradition to Croatia over a number of graft investigations, unexpectedly stepped down in the summer of 2009.
A few months before that, the government and MOL signed a revised shareholders' agreement on INA.
Sanader, 57, is wanted over allegations of abuse of office and corruption, including into accusations he was behind a plan to create slush funds for his conservative HDZ party during his term as prime minister from 2004-9.
Sanader has denied any wrongdoing.
Incredible. what next?