Former Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, suspected of white collar crime in Croatia, has decided to ask to be transferred back to Croatia from Austria under fast-track procedure at an extradition hearing scheduled for 21 June in Linz, Sanader's lawyer in Zagreb, Goran Suic, said on Thursday.
Sanader has been in extradition custody in Salzburg since his arrest on 10 December 2010.
"Sanader has decided to ask for fast-track extradition to Croatia at the 21 June hearing because in recent days his name has been tied with possible negative connotations of Croatia's EU negotiations," Suic said in a brief telephone conversation with Hina.
On 21 June, three judges of the high provincial court in Linz will consider the Sanader extradition case after the Salzburg provincial court on May 9 approved Sanader's extradition to Croatia. Lawyer Werner Suppan, who represents Sanader in Austria, appealed against his client's handover to Croatia, claiming that Sanader would not have a fair trial in Zagreb.
The Croatian judiciary suspects him of abuse of office and powers in several cases. He is charged with having syphoned money from public companies and ministries via the private Fimi Media company. He also allegedly received kickbacks amounting to HRK 3.5 million for the approval of a loan which Hypo Bank gave to the Croatian government while he was Deputy Foreign Minister.
The Croatian anti-corruption agency USKOK is also investigating his role in illegal business deals between the state-owned power company HEP and the private Dioki company. Sanader and Dioki owner Robert Jezic are under investigation on suspicion that they tried to ensure unlawful gain of EUR 10 million for Jezic's company, specialised in petrochemicals and plastics production, at the expense of the state-run JANAF oil pipeline operator.
Sanader is also under investigation in Austria on suspicion of money laundering.
Sanader has claimed he is innocent.
