Nikica Jelavic’s Trial Wont Start Until September

The appeal for bail lessens the possibility that Jelavic’s trial in Germany starts before September, claims lawyer R. Mlinaric.

Rajko Mlinaric, who is Nikica Jelavic’s lawyer in Croatia, thinks that sending an appeal is a big mistake. Drago Sribar, who is Nikica Jelavic’s “foreign” lawyer, sent an appeal to the Slovenian court for refusing to allow bail of half a million euros.

Rajko claims that the 48 hour wait for the appeal deadline is a waste of time, because there will be no decision on bail.

- I would not write an appeal, because that would reduce the speed of the proceedings, and this is not good for Mr. Jelavic. He needs speedy proceedings, because an appeal in this case is a waste of time, especially because he signed approval to be extradited to Germany – said Mlinaric. He explained that the refusal of bail for half a million euros was not a legal but was a discretionary decision by the Slovenian court. No matter the amount of money offered, the decision would be the same, claims Mlinaric.

It is this appeal, stresses Mlinaric, that is further delaying Jelavic’s extradition to Germany, and with this, the start of the trial.

- If the extradition is not carried out by the end of July, and there is a small chance of that happening, the first hearing will certainly not be before September – concluded Mlinaric.

Under investigation by the State Attorney for half a million euros

Because of the offer of half a million euros for bail to the Slovenian court, Croatia’s State Attorney requested that the tax department carry out an investigation into Nikica Jelavic’s finances, writes Vecernji.hr. According to them, that information was confirmed by the State Attorney, but the data on whether he paid his taxes on time, and if he reported correct income data, are still unknown.

According to database information from “Poslovna Hrvatska”, Jelavic is the director of three companies from various sectors. His company “Dallas” works in catering and tourism. The company “Opirus Gradnja d.o.o.” (Opirus construction) mostly trades in real estate, and he is also the head of the company “MM Svjetla” (MM lights).