Former JANAF oil pipeline operator CEO Dragan Kovacevic was released from custody on Tuesday, and later in the day another suspect in the JANAF corruption scandal, the HDZ mayor of Velika Gorica, Drazen Barisic, is also to be released after he resigned from his post.

The town of Velika Gorica, just south of Zagreb, told Hina that Barisic’s letter of resignation was received today and that his duties would be taken over by his deputy Kresimir Ackar.

By resigning from his post Barisic met the last condition for his release since he was remanded in custody due to the risk of witness tampering as well as the risk of repeating the crime he is suspected of.

Kovacevic: I will prove my innocence in court

Leaving Zagreb’s Remetinec prison, Kovacevic told reporters that he would prove his innocence in court.

The Social Democrat mayor of Nova Gradiska and member of parliament, Vinko Grgic, will remain in custody and a decision on his possible release will be made on Wednesday.

Along with him, also in custody is the lead suspect in this case, Elektrocentar company owner Kreso Petek, who was placed in custody due to the risk of witness tampering and repeating the crime he is suspected of.

Zagreb County Court is expected to decide on Petek’s custody on Thursday.

Investigators suspect influence peddling, bribery, unlawful preferential treatment, abuse of office

USKOK believes that Kovacevic took bribes from Petek, who allegedly also bribed Barisic and Grgic to make sure they awarded his company jobs worth millions of kuna.

The investigation covers 14 people suspected of influence peddling, bribery, unlawful preferential treatment, abuse of office and aiding and abetting the commission of those crimes.

The investigation was expanded to charge Kovacevic with having been tipped off that he would be arrested and with using the time until his arrest to hide €4.5 million with Goran Puklin, who claims that the money is his. After the investigation was expanded to include Puklin, his wife Mirela Aleric Puklin asked to be relieved as Zagreb County Deputy Prosecutor.