Former Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, arrested in Austria on 10 December, will be remanded in custody in Salzburg for 30 days, the Austrian news agency APA reported on Monday quoting the spokeswoman for the Office of the Prosecutor in Salzburg, Barbara Feichtinger.
The next detention hearing is set for 27 January, according to the APA.
Following consultations with his defence counsel, Sanader did not express his position today on Croatia's request for his extradition.
Last Thursday, the Austrian federal anti-corruption prosecutors interviewed Sanader as part of an investigation which Austria has launched on the suspicion that he is involved in a money laundering case. The case was opened after a Tyrolean bank filed a report against Sanader implicating him in money laundering activities. During the questioning via video link, Sanader denied involvement in any wrongdoing.
In the event Austria issues an indictment in this case, it will delay Sanader's transfer to Croatia where he is wanted for graft and abuse of office.
In the event that Sanader accedes to his extradition, he could be transferred to Croatia in line with expedited procedure.
If he refuses extradition, the court in Salzburg will decide on the matter and Sanader may appeal to a higher court against the trial court ruling on his transfer back to Croatia, which may considerably delay the extradition process.
