Sanader objected to the first point of the indictment charging him with war profiteering when he allegedly took a commission from the Hypo bank that approved a loan for the construction of embassy buildings. He further objected because he was being tried pursuant to the law on non-applicability of statutory limitations to war crimes which was adopted after the alleged white-collar crime took place. He said he was the only Croatia citizen to be tried under this law.

"I did not accept any commission and even if I had it could not be tied to any possible war profiteering", he said. He recalled that he was promoted and decorated as a colonel for his contribution to the war in Croatia.

He went on to give a detailed description of the circumstances in Croatia at the time and the urgency to promote Croatia in the world which required the purchasing of buildings for embassies and that this entire business was conducted by former foreign minister Mate Granic.

He rejected Granic's testimony that he had helped Granic get the loan from Hypo Bank or that he had introduced Granic to Eugene Laxa who allegedly mediated in the payment of the multi-million commission.

The indictee also claimed that he was being prosecuted following the order of his successor Jadranka Kosor, who succeeded him as premier and also at the helm of the HDZ when he abruptly stepped down in July 2010,

Sanader will continue his defence for accusations that he accepted a 10 million euro bribe from MOL in exchange for leaving the management of INA to the Hungarian company.