Croatia's former Prime Minister released from investigative custody

The Zagreb County Court decided on Wednesday to release former Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader from prison, while Croatian Office for fighting anti-corruption (USKOK) said it would appeal.

The decision came after Constitutional Court concluded on Tuesday that Sanader's prison stay was illegally prolonged by the Supreme Court.

Sanader has been in prison since November 2012 after he was sentenced for war profiteering in the Hypo Bank case and for taking a bribe in the INA-MOL case.

However, the Constitutional Court quashed a sentence against him in the Hypo Bank case and INA-MOL case this summer, ordering a retrial before the Zagreb County Court.

In another so-called "Fimi Media" case, Sanader was sentenced to nine years in prison and fined 2 million euros (2.12 million U.S. dollars) for using the private marketing company, Fimi Media, to pump money out of public companies and institutions in March 2014.

The Supreme Court acquitted him for the case in September this year due to violations of criminal procedures and breaches to the right to fair trial, returning the case for retrial.

There has been no sentences against him, either final or those pending appeal by now.

Sanader is currently on trial in the Planinska case for taking 17 million kunas (2.8 million U.S. dollars) in commission.

Sources: XINHUA