Barberic Valentic said the court decided to extend detention for the business couple due to the gravity of the crimes they are charged with.

Zdravko Pevec, a well-known businessman from Bjelovar, and his wife Visnja, are indicted for abuse of office, business malfeasance and book-keeping irregularities. They have been in custody since early June.

Twelve witnesses have so far been questioned in a probe into allegations that the Pevecs syphoned off some HRK 20 million from their two companies - Pevec Bjelovar and Pevec Transporti.