Three men suspected of fixing Croatian First Division football matches will remain in detention for three months, a Zagreb County Court investigating judge decided on Wednesday.
Judge Ratko Scekic ruled that Vinko Saka, Dino Lalic and Admir Suljic, who allegedly earned at the bookies between 150,000 and 300,000 euros per fixed match, be remanded in custody for three months, citing the risk of repetition of the crime in the case of Saka and the risk of flight in the case of Lalic and Suljic, who are both citizens of Slovenia.
The three men have been arrested as part of a police operation codenamed Offside, launched late last year based on information provided by German police.
Police suspect that eight First Division football matches were fixed between the end of March and the beginning of May this year, and that four such attempts failed.
Nineteen more persons, mainly football players, are suspects in the case. They have been released from custody pending completion of the investigation.
According to unofficial sources, the investigation in this case may be completed by November.
