The trial in the Fimi Media case, in which former Prime Minister and Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) president Ivo Sanader, the HDZ , several former HDZ officials as well as Fimi Media company owner are charged with siphoning about 70 million kuna (9.3 million euros) from state institutions and companies, resumed before the Zagreb County Court on Monday morning with the defendant Sanader having been transferred from the Remetinec penitentiary to the court for today's hearing after last week he was found guilty for war profiteering and murky dealings in the Hypo bank case and the INA-MOL case and was sentenced to 10 years in jail.
Today's hearing began with the questioning of witness Marcela Gracin, an employee in the economy ministry, who used to work for the foreign ministry and the government and as well as for the HDZ at the same time being reimbursed HRK 1,500 for services in the HDZ.
She is one of witnesses believed to have received reimbursement from the HDZ slush fund. The money syphoned from the state companies, institutions and ministries ended up partly in the party's slush fund and partly in private pockets, according to this indictment.
The witness Gracin told the court that the former HDZ accountant Branka Pavosevic, one of the defendants, paid her directly the agreed sums without any contracts.
Another five witnesses are expected to testify in the Fimi Media case on Monday.
