Zagorec Arrested In Austria

Information on Zagorec`s arrest was conformed yesterday by the Austrian Ministry of Justice and Ministry of the Interior.

Former deputy minister of the interior and retired general Vladimir Zagorec was arrested yesterday based on an international APB, issued by the Croatian jurisdiction, confirmed Austrian Ministry of the Interior spokesperson Rudolf Gollia for Austrian news agency.

Zagorec before Austrian magistrate today

The general was arrested and brought in by members of the Constitutionality protection services and struggle against terrorism.

Viennese attorney office Lansky, Ganzger & partner spokesperson, representing the Croatian general, said for APA that Zagorec will be brought before the magistrate on Wednesday who should decide if the general will remain in custody or be released with bail.

Austrian attorneys: Charges politically motivated

The attorney office pointed out that charges of Croatian authorities “are exclusively politically motivated”. The office also dismisses claims by Croatian authorities that there is danger of hiding, because of which a warrant for arrest was issued out. They went on saying Zagorec has a residence permit, as well as a working permit since 2000, and that he is living there with his family, APA reports.

The retired general is suspected of misuse of position and authorities, i.e. that upon leaving the deputy defence minister post in 2000, he took jewels from a safe in the Ministry of Defence, which were handed over to him in 1993 by a German weapons trader as a guarantee for five million US dollars, taken form the ministry, indented for purchasing weapons to defend Croatia.