Former Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) secretary-general Ivan Jarnjak on Wednesday completed his testimony in the Fimi Media corruption trial, saying in response to a question from former prime minister and HDZ president Ivo Sanader that he had been omnipotent.
"As party president, you could do everything. You could do things bypassing the secretary-general. You even convened a session of the HDZ Presidency once without inviting me," the former HDZ secretary-general said at the Zagreb County Court, completing his testimony he began on Monday.
He said that Sanader, a defendant in this case, had decided on issues that were not included on the agenda of the Presidency sessions.
The defence objected to the accuracy of Jarnjak's testimony, claiming that most of it was not based on first-hand knowledge but was a medley of conclusions based on the interpretation of others' unverified information.
Sanader dismissed claims that his daughter had used the party's mobile phone and that the bill was charged to the party. He said Jarnjak's statements about the local Osijek Television and the purchase of a BMW for the party were untrue.
Ratko Macek's counsel Tihimir Rubesa said he could not help but feel that Jarnjak's notes had been used so that he could be granted witness status, because during the investigation in the case he was in a different position. "The witness's reliability has been brought into question by his attempt to deserve the position he was given in this trial."
Responding to a question from Rubesa, Jarnjak said Macek had complained to him that the hiring of the Fimi Media marketing agency could cause problems because headlines had started appearing in the press and politically damage the HDZ.
Jarnjak said former HDZ treasurer and Customs chief Mladen Barisic had been mentioned in that context.
The trial is set to resume on July 2 with the testimony of former HDZ secretary Branko Bacic.
The defendants in the Fimi Media case are Sanader, the HDZ and four others. Although not plea-bargaining with the anti-corruption office USKOK, Barisic, former HDZ accountant Branka Pavosevic and Fimi Media owner Nevenka Jurak pleaded guilty, while Sanader, his former spokesman Macek and the HDZ's legal representative pleaded not guilty to the siphoning of about HRK 70 million (approx. 9.3 million euros) from state agencies and companies.
The HDZ is the first political party in Croatia accused of corruption.
