Former Croat PM jailed for corruption
Nov 20, 2012, 9:28 AM
ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) – A court has found former Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader guilty on corruption charges and has sentenced him to 10 years in prison.
The 59-year-old, who served as prime minister from 2004 to 2009, is the highest ranking former official tried for graft in Croatia which has pledged to root out corruption as it becomes a European Union member in 2013.
Judges found him guilty of accepting a (EURO)10 million ($13 million) bribe from Hungarian oil company MOL in return for securing it controlling rights in Croatia’s state oil company INA; and receiving (EURO)545,000 ($695,000) in kickbacks for a credit deal with Hypo Alpe Adria Group that gave the Austrian bank a leading position in Croatia.
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