Dark Side
Zagorec - Key Witness In Inquest Against Perkovic
By Karmen Horvat, Javna 8/5/08
May 10, 2008 - 10:34:20 AM

Marja Colak Investigation against Sasa Perkovic, advisor to Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, is officially opened, confirmed Zvonimir Hodak, attorney of retired Croatian general Vladimir Zagorec,

Austrian State Attorney`s Office is looking into Perkovic`s case due to alleged blackmails and threats during his unofficial meeting with Zagorec in Vienna. Because of the investigation, Zagorec`s extradition to Croatia will be delayed.

- The extradition will surely be prolonged because general Zagorec is a key witness in this case – Hodak told us.

He points out that Zagorec`s defence is largely credited for this move of the Austrian Office.

- We endlessly kept telling them that these are atypical situations in which the president`s advisor is telling Zagorec that he and his family are in life danger – Hodak said.

During the meeting of Zagorec and Perkovic, the general secretly recorded the conversation, wanting to prove his life in Croatia is at stake.

Perkovic will have to go to Vienna again because of the investigation, not to have an unofficial meeting with the general, but to be examined by the police, Hodak told us.

Retired Croatian general Vladimir Zagorec, who has been living in Austria for 8 years, was arrested in Vienna in March 2007, based on an international APB, issued out by the Croatian jurisdiction.

He is charged with stealing jewels, handed over to him in 1993 by a German arms trader as a guarantee for 5 million US dollars, while he was leaving his duty of defence minister assistant in 2000.