Post by Caslav Klonimirovic on Jan 16, 2009 4:22:13 GMT -5
The judge banned the defence from objecting to evidence, while the cabinet is communicating with the counsel for the defence.
ZAGREB, CROATIA – The trial in the anti-corruption Maestro campaign is slowly turning into a political show. Although the prosecution has claimed from the very start of the trial that the defence, in lack of legal elements, was trying to turn the case into a political one, the final evidence of the level of political lobby in the Maestro case was submitted on Monday by the highest body in the state – the Croatian government itself.
Due to unclear reasons, the cabinet decided to comment on the evidence, to be precise a secret tape of the Office for the Prevention of Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK), in which confident Josko Kuzmanovic mentions Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader. Kuzmanovic mentioned him in the context with certain architect Jerko Rosin, saying “the actions which Rosin was supposed to take were blessed by PM Ivo Sanader himself”. An announcement from the government`s PR office followed, denying that any one the witnesses mention the premier`s name. However, this was not enough so they went a step further, addressing a dialogue with the defence in the Maestro proceedings, calling the matter of mentioning the PM`s name nonsense and cheap attempts of the defence to refocus attention from the important matters in the process.
What is the government`s role in the Maestro case?
At the end of the hearing on Tuesday, judge Krsul banned the defence from commenting evidence, unless the objections refer to the quality of the recordings or contradiction in relation to the transcripts. The defence severely objected to such a decision, looking back on the cabinet7s press release with reason.
It is symptomatic that in yesterday`s announcement the government practically analyses evidence as if some of them attended the hearing. I dare say that the government has directly become involved in the case, because it inadmissibly communicates with the defence and the counsel. Thus, I objected to the decision of the court hearing for the right to object to the evidence to be denied – said Branko Seric of the defence for charged Josip Matanovic.
Prosecutor and USKOK representative Ksenija Pavic replied to the defence`s attack, saying that the defence abused their right to stating objections and agreed with the government`s opinion that the case is trying to be politicised.
Because of such synchronisation between the government, the prosecution and the court, the defence believes the entire case is rigged and that the “big fish” are trying to be protected.
ZAGREB, CROATIA – The trial in the anti-corruption Maestro campaign is slowly turning into a political show. Although the prosecution has claimed from the very start of the trial that the defence, in lack of legal elements, was trying to turn the case into a political one, the final evidence of the level of political lobby in the Maestro case was submitted on Monday by the highest body in the state – the Croatian government itself.
Due to unclear reasons, the cabinet decided to comment on the evidence, to be precise a secret tape of the Office for the Prevention of Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK), in which confident Josko Kuzmanovic mentions Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader. Kuzmanovic mentioned him in the context with certain architect Jerko Rosin, saying “the actions which Rosin was supposed to take were blessed by PM Ivo Sanader himself”. An announcement from the government`s PR office followed, denying that any one the witnesses mention the premier`s name. However, this was not enough so they went a step further, addressing a dialogue with the defence in the Maestro proceedings, calling the matter of mentioning the PM`s name nonsense and cheap attempts of the defence to refocus attention from the important matters in the process.
What is the government`s role in the Maestro case?
At the end of the hearing on Tuesday, judge Krsul banned the defence from commenting evidence, unless the objections refer to the quality of the recordings or contradiction in relation to the transcripts. The defence severely objected to such a decision, looking back on the cabinet7s press release with reason.
It is symptomatic that in yesterday`s announcement the government practically analyses evidence as if some of them attended the hearing. I dare say that the government has directly become involved in the case, because it inadmissibly communicates with the defence and the counsel. Thus, I objected to the decision of the court hearing for the right to object to the evidence to be denied – said Branko Seric of the defence for charged Josip Matanovic.
Prosecutor and USKOK representative Ksenija Pavic replied to the defence`s attack, saying that the defence abused their right to stating objections and agreed with the government`s opinion that the case is trying to be politicised.
Because of such synchronisation between the government, the prosecution and the court, the defence believes the entire case is rigged and that the “big fish” are trying to be protected.