A Zagreb County Court investigating judge has extended pre-trial custody for suspects in the JANAF corruption case.

The main suspects – former JANAF CEO Dragan Kovacevic, the owner of the Elektrocentar Petek company, Kreso Petek, Velika Gorica mayor Drazen Barisic (HDZ) and Nova Gradiska mayor Vinko Grgic (SDP) – will remain in custody for two more months, court spokesman Kresimir Devcic told Hina on Friday.

The suspects Vlado Zoric, Damir Vrbanc and Vatroslav Sablic will remain behind bars for another ten days, while Ljubomir Perusic will be in custody for another 16 days, the spokesman added.

The investigating judge has upheld the motion by the USKOK anti-corruption office to extend the custody to prevent the suspects from interfering with witnesses or repeating the crimes.

Six more suspects in this case have previously been granted a pre-trial release.

Former JANAF CEO Kovacevic is suspected of taking bribes from Petek, who in turned bribed the mayors of Velika Gorica and Nova Gradiska, who are both members of parliament, to obtain lucrative business deals for his company.

USKOK launched an investigation into a total of 14 persons on suspicion of influence peddling, bribe giving, illicit preferential treatment, abuse of office and powers, and aiding and abetting in these crimes.