The parliamentary Credentials and Privileges Commission (MIP) on Monday stripped independent deputy Ivo Sanader of parliamentary immunity from prosecution in the Fimi Media case which implicates Sanader in the alleged syphoning of money from state agencies and companies into the HDZ party's slush fund while he had served as Prime Minister and president of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).
MIP members unanimously and with no debate today decided to lift immunity from Sanader, as requested by the USKOK national anti-corruption agency which charged Sanader with conspiracy to commit crime and with abuse of office and powers.
Last Friday, USKOK filed an indictment against the HDZ party, its former president and prime minister Sanader, and nine more legal entities or natural persons for illegally syphoning 46.6 million kuna (6.2 million euros) from state companies and institutions. USKOK believes that Sanader retained 15 million kuna for himself and that the rest ended up in the party's slush fund.
Sanader is already on trial on charges of abuse of office and graft, including kickbacks he allegedly received from Austria's Hypo bank and from MOL for securing the Hungarian company a dominant role in Croatia's oil and gas group INA.
