Turudić on the concession in Rijeka: We will ask the authorities why they made this decision

Main state prosecutor Ivan Turudić has stated that he will question the relevant authorities regarding why a specific concession was granted in Rijeka. Speaking during an appearance on HRT's Dnevnik program, Turudić noted that this was the sole among 15 concessions issued by the state, specifically the government, in 2015, with the others being issued by local municipalities. He emphasized that his office would conduct inspections to determine whether there were any legal violations or responsibilities associated with the decision, and he promised to ask the appropriate bodies why the choice was made. Turudić clarified that he had not spoken directly with Mostar’s parliamentary representative Marin Miletic, who had previously cut through a fence to allow public access to the beach near the Rijeka Hilton Hotel. When asked about Miletic’s claim that he had received confirmation of investigations against the company Costabella via the top of the State Prosecutor’s Office (DORH), Turudić denied having discussed the matter outside of formal sessions of parliament. In discussing the confirmed indictment against Ivo Todorić in the Agrokor case, Turudić highlighted that numerous “false prophets” had claimed the process would take 20 years or more. He noted that six individuals had been indicted, four of whom had reached settlements and admitted guilt, resulting in legally binding convictions. The remaining two accused, Todorić and a former health inspector named Discordia, are still under investigation. Turudić mentioned that Discordia had been temporarily unfit for duty due to health reasons, though further details on his condition remain pending. Turudić also recalled his involvement in the case as a judge at the High Court and as chairman of a committee that declared the initial falsification of evidence unlawful. Following that, a new expert from Austria was appointed, leading to the decision by the Zagreb County State Prosecutors' Office that suspicion should be directed toward six individuals rather than all 15 originally implicated. Regarding the ongoing situation involving former president of the Ski Association Vladimir Pavleks, who remains in Kazakhstan and opposes extradition over alleged embezzlement, Turudić indicated that legal means are still available but expressed hope that they will eventually be exhausted, allowing him to appear before Croatian judicial authorities. He added that even if Pavleks requested Kazakh citizenship, given the international arrest warrant, he could not be removed from Kazakhstan. When asked about potential new indictments, Turudić confirmed that further proceedings are underway. He detailed that an investigation into the ski association is ongoing, noting that over 120,000 documents were found on Pavleks’ laptop, a massive task compounded by the time required for annual vacations. Additionally, anonymous reports related to the football club Hajduk are being investigated, with proper documentation obtained and verified. Turudić addressed the issue of unauthorized camp construction by former national team player Dario Šimić, describing it as a “solid case.” He stated that evidence supports the existence of reasonable suspicion and that he is confident the case will conclude successfully, just as have other cases initiated by his office. All previous investigations either saw appeals rejected or confirmed charges. He concluded by emphasizing the effectiveness of his office’s work over the past two years.