Deputy prosecutor asks to be relieved of duties, claims money found is husband's

"The money found in my flat, where my husband also lives, does not belong to (former Janaf CEO) Dragan Kovacevic, who I do not know personally, but belongs to my husband. All the circumstances in the incriminating event will be part of the evidence hearing during which it will be necessary to consider all the relevant circumstances in order to determine the actual and true facts," Aleric Puklin said in a press release.

She underscored that she worked on the Agrokor case with "exceptional dedication and conscientiously," and that the only reason she is asking to be relieved of duties is to protect her own and her family's circumstances and the reputation of the State Prosecutor's Office.

The State Prosecutor's Office on Saturday said that it would make a decision on Aleric Puklin's fate after it receives an opinion from the Zagreb County Prosecutor's Office.

The USKOK anti-corruption office had reported earlier, without releasing any names, that the investigation in the Janaf scandal had been expanded to Goran Puklin who agreed to hide HRK 2,593,800, €247,200 and 20,000 Swiss francs for Kovacevic. He allegedly hid the money in his flat "so that the cash which had been obtained illegally would not be found and confiscated."

The number of suspects in the case has increased to 14 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 request 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.