Former PM denies he took bribes

Croatia’s former prime minister, Ivo Sanader, yesterday denied that he received bribes from an Austrian bank while he served as deputy foreign minister in the 1990s as his trial opened.

Sanader, the prime minister for six years before resigning in 2009, is the highest ranking former Croat official to face corruption and war profiteering charges.

The trial is seen as Croatia’s test on whether it can carry out its pledge to the European Union that it is ready to fight widespread corruption before it is set to become a member in 2013.

Sanader is charged with abuse of power for allegedly taking some £434,000 in bribes for a multimillion credit deal with Hypo Alpe Adria Group in 1994-95 that allowed the Austrian bank entry and leading position in the Croatian market.

“I have never asked or received any bribe for any loan,” Sanader said. “While serving on top positions in Croatian politics, I was always guided with the belief that it is an honourable duty to serve one’s own state and nation”.

The charges say that Croatia was at war for independence from Yugoslavia at the time and that Sanader “used the difficult position of the country to gain personal financial profit.”

Sanader was extradited to Croatia from Austria in July to face several separate charges of corruption.