The Zagreb County Court has blocked EUR 3.4 million in a bank account owned by Ante Sapina as this Croatian bookie who works in Berlin is again under investigation launched by German authorities on suspicion of football match-fixing.
The account with Zagrebacka Banka was blocked following a request from a municipal court in Bochum, Germany.
Five years ago, Sapina was involved in a match-fixing scandal and was then sentenced to two years and 11 months in prison. After the latest investigation was initiated last year, Sapina was sent behind the bars in November.
German investigators suspect him and another four men of professional fraud and money laundering which enabled Sapina to earn EUR 3.4 million.
In case of a guilty verdict, Germany will ensure that damages are paid with money deposited in his accounts, which is why his account with Zagrebacka Banka was frozen.
Zagreb Court investigating judge Ratko Scekic said on Wednesday that "the money will be deposited in a separate account and kept until completion of the proceedings or until conditions have been met for its return."
According to German media, Sapina is believed to have fixed dozens of matches in several European countries, including a match between the U-21 national teams of Germany and San Marino.
