Corruption Office Suspects 9 Judges for Corruption

The president of the county citizen’s court, Ivica Pezo, was talked into abusing his position by High Trade Court judge Barisa Gaspar.

At the first autumn meeting next week, the DSV (State Court Council) will decide on the demands for starting criminal proceedings against nine judges. Amongst the judges is the president of the County Citizen’s Court in Zagreb, Ivica Pezo, who USKOK (Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organized Crime) suspects of abusing his position and authority whilst hiring a court advisor.

He was allegedly talked into doing this by a judge from the High Trade Court Barisa Gaspar, against who there is also a request to remove his court immunity, in order to legally pursue the matter.

The DSV has previously suspended and removed Barisa’s immunity because of an investigation against him by the Zagreb County Court for accepting 25,000 euros of bribes. That judge was suspected of abusing his position and authority, more precisely giving the answers of a legal exam to the children of his friends.

According to the media, USKOK wire-tapped judge Gaspar, and “caught” a conversation in which he asks Pezo for a favour. The favour was to accept Josip Bilic, the nephew of his friend, to be a court advisor. Bilic was chosen along with three other people from 35 candidates, even though, according to USKOK, he did not deserve it according to his test results.

The suspect Pezo said to the press on one occasion that he signed the decision about accepting the court advisor, because it was proposed to him by the committee that was leading the employment process, which he was not a member of. He said that he interviews dozens of people on various grounds, and that this is how he accepted Bilic.

Unhappy clients report six judges

As announced on their website today, on September 18, DSV should decide about the immunity of the county court judges in Sisak and Makarska, Korana Golic and Angelina Jovic. The State Attorney’s Office has requested permission to start criminal proceedings against them for causing traffic accidents.

There have been reports against six judges filed by clients that were not happy with their work, or verdict.

The DSV will decide about the criminal liability of the county citizen’s court judge in Zagreb, Silvija Suncana Stubicar, who is being charged with abusing her position, overstepping her authority, as well not carrying out her duties properly. Also, a committee to decide the appropriate punishment should be set up in the proceedings against the county court judge from Otocac, Nikola Orlic, who was reported for not carrying out his duties properly.

Next week three judges for the administrative court should be named.