The USKOK anti-corruption office on Thursday expanded its investigation in the Janaf case against former CEO Dragan Kovacevic and one more suspect, a man who USKOK claims hid Kovacevic's money "even though he knew that the cash had come from a criminal offence."

That brings the total number of suspects to fourteen.

The Office for Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK) reported today that it decided to expand the investigation into two accused due to suspicion of money laundering and incitement to money laundering.

USKOK suspects that in the period from 16 to 29 September 2020, after he heard that his arrest was being prepared and that his properties would be searched, Kovacevic tried to prevent cash that he had gained illegally from being found and confiscated, and asked the 14th suspect to take and hide HRK 2,593,800, €247,200 and 20,000 Swiss francs.

The latest suspect agreed even though he “knew the cash had come from a criminal offence,” and hid the money in his flat.

USKOK previously launched an investigation into 13 people suspected of influence peddling, bribery, abuse of office, and aiding and abetting in these crimes.

In addition to the main suspects in the scandal – the owner of the Elektropromet Kreso Petek, former Janaf CEO Dragan Kovacevic, Velika Gorica Mayor Drazen Barisic and Nova Gradiska Mayor Vinko Grgic – also under investigation are Tomislav Jelisavec, Katarina Gasparac, Zvonko Maras, Mirjana Prodan, Vlado Zoric, Damir Vrbanc, Vatroslav Sablic, Iva Suler and Ljubomir Perusic.

USKOK did not rerequest investigative custody only for Iva Suler, while Jelisavec, Gasparac and Maras were released after confessing their offences. Sources close to investigation have revealed that another five suspects are prepared to admit their guilt.