The Croatian Association of Judges (UHS) on Friday described as inappropriate First Deputy Prime Minister Radimir Cacic's statement about the outcome of criminal proceedings against Croatian People's Party (HNS) secretary Srecko Ferencak, saying that "making statements about a court case under way and its outcome directly jeopardises judicial autonomy guaranteed by the Constitution."
Cacic said on Thursday that he and his party, the HNS, "fully stand by Mr Ferencak, confident of his innocence and that the case against him is politically motivated."
Last year the Zagreb County Court sentenced Ferencak to one year in prison pending appeal for making more than 9.5 million kuna (1.26 million euros), together with his associate Petar Turkovic, on an unlawful sale of land owned by the City of Zagreb.
The Croatian Compulsory Oil Stocks Agency (HANDA) on Wednesday appointed Ferencak a member of the Supervisory Board of the national oil pipeline operator JANAF.
Cacic said on Thursday that he would initiate the procedure to revoke HANDA's decision due to "potential damage Ferencak's treatment by the media can do to the (ruling) coalition."
The judges' association said in a statement that politicians' comments on and expectations of a court case under way, like those made by the First Deputy Minister, undermined the public's trust in the judiciary and were unfair to parties involved in court proceedings.
