Novak said that her client had resigned on her recommendation and on the recommendation of his other lawyer, Vlado Sevsek. She said that this was for legal reasons, because there would be one ground less for his detention -- the risk of repeating the crime, because he is suspected of abuse of the mayoral position.

The defence expects that the investigative judge will now determine that there is no risk of Cehok repeating the crime he is suspected of and that a risk of his influencing the witnesses will remain the only ground for his detention. The defence hopes that after the witnesses have been questioned that ground will also cease to exist and their client will be granted a provisional release.

Ten days ago, Cehok was remanded in custody for two months. He is suspected of defrauding the city budget of 29 million kuna, and of an attempt to make it possible for Varazdin businessman Davor Patafta to buy, with non-existent 6.2 million kuna, a majority stake in the Varazdin Airport company, which is worth 21 million kuna. He is also suspected of defrauding the city budget by granting two loans worth a total of 4 million kuna to Patafta's company.

The court has decided that Patafta may be released if he posted 12 million kuna bail, the highest approved bail in Croatian judicial history.