"I was appointed today, but I still have not seen the case file, and after I examine it I will most probably appeal the decision of the Zagreb County Court ordering month-long investigative custody for my client," Gospocic told media.

Zagreb County Court spokesman Kresimir Devcic, who is the judge overseeing the investigation conducted by the anti-corruption agency USKOK against Sanader, confirmed Gospocic's appointment as Sanader's defence counsel.

After his escape to Slovenia and Austria last week, Sanader contacted several Croatian lawyers by telephone, but none of them came to court with a signed power of attorney, so the court appointed an attorney to represent him.

Criminal proceedings were launched against the former PM last week on the suspicion that he conspired with other suspects in the Fimi Media case to siphon money from ministries and public companies, and that he abused his powers in the case of illegal activities of the HEP power company and the Dioki petrochemical company.

After he was stripped of immunity as a member of parliament last Thursday, a warrant was issued for his arrest because he left Croatia before that. He was arrested near Salzburg, where he was put in 14-day extradition custody.

Croatia on Tuesday requested his extradition from Austrian authorities.

The Zagreb County Court has ruled that Sanader should be put in investigative prison because he is a flight risk and could tamper with a number of witnesses who are yet to be interviewed in the Fimi Media case.