CROATIA: A Croatian court issues a detention order for CEO of Hungary's MOL energy group, Zsolt Hernadi, after he fails to appear for questioning in a bribery case

Record ID: 863205

  • Title: CROATIA: A Croatian court issues a detention order for CEO of Hungary's MOL energy group, Zsolt Hernadi, after he fails to appear for questioning in a bribery case
  • Date: 27th September 2013
  • Summary: ZAGREB, CROATIA (SEPTEMBER 27, 2013) (REUTERS) WIDE OF STREET WITH COUNTY COURT BUILDING WIDE OF ZAGREB MAIN SQUARE PEOPLE ON TRAM STATION BOARDING TRAM WIDE OF HORSEMAN STATUE ON MAIN SQUARE
  • Embargoed: 12th October 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Croatia
  • City:
  • Country: Croatia
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAC6PXSAQ7NTACXJGO2DQW4GDDW
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: A Croatian court issued a detention order for the chief executive of Hungarian energy group MOL, Zsolt Hernadi, after he failed to appear for questioning in a bribery case, it said on Friday (September 27).
    Croatian state prosecutors are investigating allegations that MOL bribed former prime minister, Ivo Sanader, in 2008 to gain control of Croatia's oil and gas firm INA even without buying a majority stake.
    Hungarian authorities have refused two requests from Croatia to question Hernadi, citing the protection of national interests and saying there was no legal reason to do so.
    Their refusal may lead to Croatia issuing a European Arrest Warrant for Hernadi.

    "Considering the fact that over the course of the investigation (Croatia's anti-graft police's) USKOK had invited Hernadi on several occasions, in an effort to question him, (and that) on two occasions Hungary did not grant that request, citing security issues and their national interest. After that, again, on two occasions, USKOK called for Hernadi to appear in their offices here in Zagreb, and the last date set for this was September 25," Zagreb County Court judge, Kresimir Devcic, said.
    Hungary's own investigation in 2011-12 found that neither MOL nor its officials played any role in the alleged bribery.

    "Evidently, Hernadi is obstructing this court case, he does not want to appear before our (Croatian) judiciary bodies, and for that reason a detention order was issued, because of flight risk," Devcic added.
    Sanader was found guilty last year of accepting a 5 million euro ($7 million) bribe from MOL in exchange for granting it a dominant position in INA.
    Both MOL and Sanader deny the accusations and Sanader has filed an appeal.
    Hernadi has also denied any wrongdoing.
    MOL owns close to 50 percent of INA, while the government owns almost 45 percent.
    Croatia says MOL's management rights are excessive and that the Hungarian company has failed to invest adequately in INA's development.
    The two started negotiating a new shareholder agreement this month and a senior MOL official told Reuters the Hungarian side was not willing to give up its management control of INA.
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