Croatian Police Bring In Suspects Linked to Murder

The Matanic cousinsLuka and Robert, and Amir Mafalani, are suspected of being linked to the assassination of Ivo Pukanic and Niko Franjic.

ZAGREB, CROATIA - During recent days the police have arrested dozens of suspects for the murder of Ivo Pukanic, of which three were arreted today.

Unofficial sources revealed that Robert Matanic (30), Luka Matanic (23) and Amir Mafalani are in question. However, no grounds exist that any of the three arrested are the perpetrator, claims Krunoslav Borovec from the police directorate.

Matanic has already been suspected of being a hired killer

Robert Matanic is in prison for allegations that he is the hired killer that liquidated Bulgarian narcotics bosses, and served eight months and 19 days. However, he was released due to lack of evidence. Robert Matanic was one of the 12 members of a group of Croatians, that was suspected by the Bulgarian police of a number of mafia liquidations in Sofia, in September 2004.

The police consider that two men are responsible for the assassination: one that drove a motorbike with a bomb, and another that activated the explosive device.

Borovec revealed that the police are nearly certain that two men are responsible for the murder: one who drove a motorbike with the bomb, and another that activated the explosive device.

When asked if it is true that Robert Matanic was one of those arrested, and that the police suspect him of being linked to the assassination of Pukanic and Franjic, Borovec said that the police cannot reveal the names of those arrested.

Matanic’s lawyer does not know anything about his arrest

The lawyer of Robert Matanic, Zoran Pilipovic, told us in a telephone conversation that he has not been informed of the arrest of his client, and that he does not know any details about the events relating to the alleged arrest of his client.

The lawyer Pilipovic said that suspects, after being arrested, have the right to free communication with their defence representative, and that the police have not yet notified him about any arrest.

Also, Pilipovic mentioned that Krunoslav Borovec has not confirmed that his client was arrested.