He said that because the investigation in the case was confidential, he could not reveal what his client said.

The other suspects in the case are Culjak's ex-husband Vladimir Selebaj and four other persons accused of failing to pay HRK 3.1 million in VAT and syphoning more than HRK 16 million from the Core Media and Media Spot companies.

However, an indictment the prosecutor filed last November against Selebaj and his associates Toncek Mandic, Igor Sumakovic, Vlado Bucan and Mario Cikac was withdrawn two weeks ago, just before the Zagreb County Court was to have ruled whether it was founded.

During an investigation and at a trial of former Nova TV programmes director Sinisa Svilan, Selebaj said that Core Media was set up at Culjak's initiative, that she held half the stake in the company and that they shared the earnings. She, however, denies signing a secret contract with her ex-husband to cover up her conflict of interest, since at the time in question she was employed at the national broadcaster and Core Media did shows for another network.

"I have never seen a contract on the company nor consciously signed it. If I signed something, it was unconsciously," Culjak said at the Svilan trial. He was accused of taking EUR 262,000 in bribes from Selebaj to air Core Media productions on Nova TV.

In the meantime, the media have published Culjak's text messages indicating that she was familiar with Core Media's deals.

Selebaj was detained in investigative custody towards the end of 2011 after he and five more people were arrested on suspicion of murky dealings involving Core Media. Selebaj was released on EUR 100,000 bail that December.

Culjak left the HTV under pressure from the public and media speculations about her involvement.

She has voiced hope that pressure from newspapers will not influence the judiciary.