President Strips General Zagorec Of His Medals

Croatian President Mesic said he takes away general Zagorec`s medals even before a valid verdict is passed.

ZAGREB, CROATIA –

- I won`t wait for a valid verdict to retired general Vladimir Zagorec, his medals will be taken straight away – Croatian President Stjepan Mesic told reporters after touring the Croatian Memorial-Documentary Centre of the Homeland War for Independence in the Croatian State Archive.

Retired general Vladimir Zagorec was sentenced to seven years in prison on Monday at Zagreb

County Court and it was determined he has to pay 5 million dollars, which is the value of the jewels he stole from the Croatian Defence Ministry, according to his indictment.

Former assistant to the Croatian defence minister and the head of the RH Alan company Vladimir Zagorec is a Croatian citizen with the most medals and decorations even though he has never spent a day in the battlefield.

President Mesic commented on Zagorec`s statement when he said that he was “just a little mouse”, replying: Zagorec is a “fattened little mouse”.

Stating his defence in court, Zagorec said:

- I`m just a little mouse and the entire country is against me, headed by [Croatian President Stjepan] Mesic –

Zagorec was sentenced for stealing a bag containing jewels from a safe in his office while he was leaving duty in 2000 as assistant to defence minister. The bag with jewels was left by German arms trader as a deposit for the money intended for the armament of Croatia. The trial began at the end of 2008, when the retired general was extradited to Croatia from Austria.

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