Former prime minister and former HDZ president Ivo Sanader's lawyer said in his closing arguments on Friday the prosecution did not prove that he had organised the other defendants in the Fimi Media case into a group for siphoning money from state institutions and companies.

Sanader’s incrimination is based solely on the testimony of former HDZ treasurer Mladen Barisic, but he can’t be believed because his statements were contradictory, inconsistent and illogical, Cedo Prodanovic told the Zagreb County Court.

“Barisic adapted his defence and in doing so was in contradiction with the facts, the evidence and himself, which we proved,” Prodanovic said, asking the court not to believe Barisic and saying that a conviction could not be based on his testimony.

Prodanovic said that apart from Barisic’s testimony, there was no physical evidence that he had given Sanader HRK 15.2 million.

Defendant Ratko Macek’s lawyer Tihomir Grubesa said the accusations against his client were based on defendant Branka Pavosevic’s deposition during the investigation, which she withdrew during the main hearing.

He said the statute of limitations had expired on the charge of Macek’s membership of the criminal organisation, asking the court to acquit his client due to a lack of evidence.

Macek, the spokesman of Sanader’s government, said during his counsel’s closing arguments that not one charge against him had been proved. “I did my job honorably and honestly. I didn’t collect any donations nor order their collection.”

Pavosevic’s counsel Neven Gotal said the USKOK anti-corruption office did not prove that his client had committed the crime of which she stood accused.

Kresimir Vilajtovic, counsel for the late owner of the Fimi Media agency, Nevenka Jurak, asked that due to her death the proceedings against her have been dismissed.

The defence will continue with their closing arguments on Monday.