Former Croatian Prime Minister Released From Prison

Croatia's former prime minister, Ivo Sanader, has been released on bail today after serving two-thirds of his 18-year prison sentence for several corruption cases and abuse of office.

Dragan Crnkovic, the lawyer of the former Croatian prime minister, said all legal conditions have been met for his client to be released.

Sanader was sentenced to a unique prison sentence of 18 years after being sentenced to a decision of a definite form in three cases: for embezzlement of money from public companies in the case of “Fim Media”, for research and bribery in the case “Planska”, and for handing over management rights to Hungarian company MOL in exchange for bribery, Croatian media reported.

The lawyer said that in addition to Sanader's age, one of the reasons mentioned in his request for his release was his state of health, but that these were not the main reasons, as he fulfilled conditions set by the Criminal Code.

He added that the former prime minister had completed half the sentence on 15 August 2023.

Crnkovic, decapitated after leaving prison, Sanader will initially have the obligation to appear at the Zagreb police station, and later at the test centre.

According to him. The former Croatian government chief will have the obligation to appear in the police every month, will not be allowed to change residence and address of residence, and will be formally responsible for the District Court in Zagreb, which will require approval to change residence or position.

Ivo Sanader, has so far moved behind bars into custody or on the basis of judicial decisions -- almost nine and a half years.

Early release in the Croatian penal system may be required after half the sentence is ended, and usually approved after the end of two-thirds of it./Periscopi/