Criminal Charges Filed against Attorney Pilipovic

The police charged Polipovic for disclosing an official secret to the media about his former client Robert Matanic.

ZAGREB, CROATIA – The police have filed criminal charges against attorney Zoran Pilipovic for disclosing an official secret, Zagreb police spokeswoman Aleksandra Ljuba informer reporters.

After visiting his client Robert Matanic, connected to the murder of Croatian journalist Ivo Pukanic, at the police station, Pilipovic told media Matanic was prepared to talk with the Office for the Prevention of Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK), because of which Pilipovic dropped him as a client.

Considering the fact that Pilipovic was no longer Matanic’s lawyer, yet he revealed to the media information related to his former client, he committed the crime of disclosing an official secret.

Croatian attorneys reacted to Pilipovic’s conduct, calling it scandalous.

The Croatian Bar Association will send Pilipovic to disciplinary court 

By disclosing his former client’s intentions, Pilipovic breached the attorney code according to which the attorney is obliged to keep confidential all conversations with his client, even when their cooperation ceases.

The president of the Croatian Bar Association, Leo Andreis, said the Bar was already discussing the Pilipovic case and was attempting to obtain the tape in which Matanic’s former attorney gave the statement to the media.

- We simply have to obtain the footage taken at 5:30 am, but it is nowhere to be found. It often happens that things go missing, but it is a known fact that there is no such thing as a perfect crime – Andreis said.

He added that the Croatian Bar Association was now waiting for a copy of the criminal charges to submit it to the disciplinary prosecution, after which proceedings will be started against Pilipovic.

- Believe me, we will do everything to remove from our ranks those who do not belong here. We will exert all possible effort to keep as attorneys only the people who deserve it – Andreis said.