Frmr Def. Min.: If Charged, It Will Be Political

Police directorate spokesman Krunoslav Borovec said the investigation into the procurement of military trucks is in its final stage.

ZAGREB, CROATIA – Croatian MP and former defence minister, Berislav Roncevic, said on Friday that, if media announcements that he would be criminally charged for the procurement of military trucks come true, that it would be a politically motivated process, but refused to say what the political motive that would entail.

The media are speculating that due to the contentious procurement of military trucks, criminal charges will be filed against Roncevic and his former finance assistant, Ivo Bacic.

What is the political motive? 

- It is my opinion that it is a politically motivated process. If they keep insisting on this, this will probably be the first time for somebody to be criminally charged for implementing Croatian laws – Roncevic told reporters in Croatian parliament.

He stressed that an absolutely identical procurement process was also implemented in the procurement of fire-fighting vehicles.

- It was exactly the same, all phases of the process, for both procurements, are the same. It was in line with the law and this is being called a crime – Roncevic said. He refused to answer reporters’ questions as to who was working against him and what the political motive is.

Reporters asked a member of the parliament’s investigative commission for the military trucks, Andrija Hebrang, who adamantly defended Roncevic both in the commission and in parliament, whether this was all politically motivated.

- State bodies have so far not given one single negative statement about that procurement, so I myself said this is a political process – Hebrang said, stressing that incriminating statements against Roncevic arrived fro political circles and not from state bodies which are investigating the allegations.

Hebrang said that the media were speculating about criminal charges, while police and the state Prosecution have not even said if there are going to be any criminal charges filed.

Borovec: Investigation is in its final stage 

Spokesman of the Police Directorate, Krunoslav Borovec, confirmed that the investigation into the procurement of the military trucks is in its final stages, but he neither confirmed or denied media announcements that police would on Friday file criminal charges against the former defence minister Roncevic and his former assistant, Ivo Bacic.

The investigation is in its final stage and consultations with the State Prosecution are underway, Borovec said. He added that the public would be informed “when and if criminal charges are filed”.

Asked to comment the fact that in case of criminal charges the Croatian parliament would not have the time to discuss rescinding Roncevic’s suspension of immunity as member of parliament, Borovec said that most investigators do not know the schedules of parliamentary sessions and that this is not the criterion which the police follows.

The spokesman refused to comment on the results of the investigation into the contentious procurement of military trucks in 2004.

According to the media, Roncevic and his assistant are looking at criminal charges for signing a harmful deal which harmed the government budget by 10 million kuna with the purchase of 39 military trucks.