Zagreb Commercial Court on Wednesday revoked the investigative custody for Zsolt Hernadi, who last year was given two years' imprisonment pending appeal in the INA-MOL case, for which former Croatian prime minister Ivo Sanader was sentenced to six years.

On 30 December 2019, the court found Sanader and Hungarian energy group MOL CEO Zsolt Hernadi guilty of taking and giving a bribe. The 30 December ruling is subject to appeal.

Hernadi’s lawyer in Croatia, Laura Valkovic, said today that the investigative custody order was rescinded since the trial was over and there were no longer reasons for her client’s detention during the trial. The Croatian Office for Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK) has announced an appeal against the rescinding of the detention and the Supreme Court will hand down a final verdict.

On the other hand, until the Supreme Court issues a final ruling, the warrant for Hernadi’s arrest and the European warrant for his apprehension are still in force.

Hernadi is beyond reach of Croatian authorities, while Sanader is held in Zagreb’s Remetinec prison.