“However, as you saw, the Croatian police is recording successes in recent months” said Karamarko leading up to a Ministry of Internal Affairs meeting scheduled for Sunday.

He stressed that mafia groups in the region are compatible and that they act together in most cases.

“The mafia in the Balkans is one joint organism. The only way to face up to it is for the police forces, all security structures, start to act and be compatible with each other, to be in agreement, to exchange information, and sometimes act together” said Karamarko for “Dnevni Avaz”.

Besides that, Karamarko said that there is an impression that the mafia is more organized than the police.

“However, at the moment when the state decides to show its teeth, if this is done by a number of state with their security structures, then I am definitely optimistic that the mafia is losing, conditionally said, the war” says Karamarko.

He said that this does not mean that the police is not organized, which is proven by the meeting in Sarajevo.

When asked for the location of Zeljko Milovanovic, who is suspected for the murder of Pukanic and Franjic, Karamarko did not know the answer.

“It is hard to say where he is. I assume that he is somewhere in Bosnia Herzegovina. We believe in the professionalism of our colleagues in Bosnia Herzegovina, and we know they are capable of locating him and finding him. We expect that Milovanovic will soon be on trial in Bosnia Herzegovina” said Karamarko.

However, he stressed that there are only assumptions that Milovanovic is inside the borders of Bosnia Herzegovina.

Karamarko, amongst other things, denied the claims of Milovanovic that he wrote in a letter he sent to “Press”, saying that he is not responsible for the murder of Pukanic and Franjic.

“There are many arguments and much evidence that remove this doubt totally” says Karamarko.

Minister: Mafia More Organized Than Police – Translation Joseph Stedul – Author: A.Š. – November 29, 2008 15:50h – javno.com – This story was found at: http://www.javno.com/en/croatia/clanak.php?id=209180

Ivan Simonovic told the Croatian parliament that courts would fast-track such cases and witness protection would be improved.

He said the problem needed “a scalpel”, because it threatened people’s security and Croatia’s bid to join the EU.

New legislation would allow criminals’ property to be confiscated, he said.

“That way we will hit the mob where it hurts most – their wallets!” he said.

On 23 October a car bomb blast in the capital Zagreb killed Ivo Pukanic, editor of the weekly newspaper Nacional, along with the paper’s chief marketing executive, Niko Franic.

Earlier this month, a prominent lawyer’s daughter, Ivana Hodak, was shot dead in Zagreb. Her killing prompted Prime Minister Ivo Sanader to replace his ministers of justice and the interior.

“Croatia doesn’t need a sabre, but nor does it need an aspirin. It needs a scalpel that cuts deep and with precision,” Mr Simonovic said on Wednesday.

The new Interior Minister, Tomislav Karamarko, pledged police reforms, saying: “I’m sure the Croatian police will very soon regain lost trust from citizens.”

Special departments will be established at municipal courts in Zagreb, Split, Rijeka and Osijek to deal with organised crime and corruption cases.

Mr Simonovic also said there would be closer monitoring of communications between prisoners jailed for organised crime and their outside contacts.

Effective action to combat organised crime and corruption is a key condition in Croatia’s bid to join the European Union. The European Commission will deliver a progress report on its bid next month. Croatia hopes to join as early as 2010.

Croatia launches anti-mafia drive – 29 October 2008 – BBC – This story was found at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7697713.stm

State-run Croatian TV showed footage of Pukanic’s burned-out Lexus and two covered bodies outside his NCL Media Group office in the capital, and police identified the victims as Pukanic and his group’s marketing director, Niko Franjic.

Krunoslav Borovec, a senior national police official, said a hidden explosive device had destroyed Pukanic’s car and that investigation has been launched to determine who had killed the two men.

Six months ago, Pukanic, 47, said that someone had tried to kill him in front of his house in downtown Zagreb, showing police what he described as a bullet hole in a nearby shop window. Police provided him with protection afterward, but ended that in August at his request, Interior Minister Tomislav Karamarko said.

Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said his government condemned the “assassination” of Pukanic, the owner and editor-in-chief of Nacional, the No. 2 political weekly in Croatia.

Pukanic’s media house also publishes several other newspapers.

“Is it mafia or terrorism, that’s early to say,” he said. “But we are witnessing something bigger” than a common crime, Sanader said.

President Stipe Mesic also swiftly condemned the killing.

“By tonight’s assassination, terrorism came to the streets of Zagreb,” Mesic said in a statement, adding: “It is now a choice between us — the state of law — and them: criminals, terrorists, mafia.”

In Croatia, the term “terrorism” does not necessarily refer to an insurgent group, but to bomb attacks carried out by criminals and criminal gangs.

Last month, Ivana Hodak, a 26-year-old-daughter of a prominent lawyer, was shot twice in the head in her home in the capital, near police headquarters. The government condemned it as a mafia-style murder, not a terrorist attack.

Nacional, launched in 1995, is an investigative newspaper. Pukanic was praised for his work there, but also considered controversial and criticized for being too close to some politicians and a public figure believed to be an organized crime boss.

In April, Pukanic’s name also made headlines when his wife Mirjana accused him of buying and using cocaine from dealers, and of persuading emergency crews to admit her to a mental hospital when she was not suffering serious problems.

In 2003, Pukanic won the Croatian Press Association award for publishing an exclusive interview with former Croatian Gen. Ante Gotovina while he was a fugitive. Gotovina was later caught by Spanish police and is now being tried by the U.N. War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague for allegedly orchestrating the killing and expulsion of ethnic Serbs during a 1995 offensive during the Croatian war.

However, Pukanic also was kicked out of the Croatian Press Association earlier this year after publishing his wife’s medical chart.

Prominent Croatian journalist killed – By SNJEZANA VUKIC – Associated Press – This story was found at: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jTAS7xJkFuCvtJshKf2tiOsWcAOgD940FAL02

Zagreb — A sitting of the Croatian National Security Council was held, presided by Croatian President Stjepan Mesic and Prime Minister Ivo Sanader. The sitting was summoned by President Mesic after 26-year-old Ivana Hodak was brutally executed in downtown Zagreb on Monday, in broad daylight.

The National Security Council (VONS) has given green light to the government`s proposal of the package of anti-mafia laws.

Among other novelties introduced, the package includes taking DNA samples from all convicts. Also, a police-national office is to be established with the objective of fighting crime.

Furthermore, the VONS council has supported the so called USKOK courts (Office for the Prevention of Corruption and Organised Crime) which should monitor USKOK`s activities in all larger Croatian cities.

It was concluded that the entire system must speed up all processes, while Croaitan Prime Minister Sanader pointed out that the new ministers, Croaitan Intelligence Agency directors and the police would improve their co-operation.

The prime minister commented on the fact that former interior minister Berislav Roncevic and former justice minister Ana Lovrin failed to show up for the sitting, saying they were relieved of their duties.

Croaitan President Stjepan Mesic said that the council sitting was prompted over the murder of Ivana Hodak, whose commemorative service was held today in Zagreb.

When asked what was the status of head Croaitan State Attorney Mladen Bajic, seeing how nobody has held him responsible, Mesic said that was present at the council sitting-

- He was here, meaning he was stable – the Croatian president joked.

Asked when the new Croatian Intelligence Agency (SOA) president Josip Buljevic would present himself to the public, the president replied:

- The public meets the CIA director once he retires –

Croatian Security Council Approves Anti-Mafia Law – Daria Lešić – Published: October 10, 2008 – Javno.com – This story was found at: http://www.javno.com/en/croatia/clanak.php?id=191018

Ms Hodak’s brutal killing sparked protests in the capital among a population sick of spiralling crime rates and sent a chill through the country’s ruling elite.

As night fell thousands of people gathered at Cvjetni Trg square in central Zagreb to light candles and lay flowers in a silent protest against the mafia.

The Croatian Prime Minister, Ivo Sanader, responded by sacking his interior and justice ministers, as well as the head of the national police, within hours of the killing, amid fears that rising violence could threaten his country’s hoped for European Union membership.

Croatia hopes to complete negotiations for entry next year, and to become the 28th EU member in 2011, but increasing mafia-style attacks could jeopardise those plans. A crucial European Commission progress report is due to be released in November.

Bulgaria, which joined the EU in 2007, has faced sharp criticism from Brussels for failing to tackle mafia-style killings. Judicial reforms demanded by the EU as a precondition for Bulgaria’s entry are being implemented in Croatia.

Last month, the head of Zagreb police was also replaced, reportedly for failing to tackle the rising crime.

Despite the sackings, opposition Social Democrats have called on the government to resign, and for new elections to be held.

Widespread concern
The dead woman’s father is a prominent lawyer, Zvonimir Hodak, and her mother a former deputy prime minister, Ljerka Mintas Hodak.

Local media reports have linked the murder to Mr Hodak’s defence of retired General Vladimir Zagorec, who is accused of embezzling diamonds worth $5m from the Croatian state during his time as chief of arms procurement in the 1990s. Mr Zagorec was extradited from Austria last Friday and faces trial.

“All murders committed in Croatia in the last 10 years bear the same signature,” Mr Hodak told Croatian TV, in his first public comments after the murder of his daughter. He blamed the killing on those he said felt threatened by information that might come out during the Zagorec case.

The European Commission in Brussels also expressed concern. Krisztina Nagy, an EU spokeswoman, called on the Croatian government to take “all the necessary steps to secure a comprehensive and adequate fight against crime”.

‘Balkan gangsters’
This was just the latest in a series of beatings and killings, blamed on Croatian underworld groups born out of the 1991-95 war when Croatia broke away from Yugoslavia.

Across the Balkans violent crime fell in the early years of the new millennium and in May a UN report said that Balkan countries, including Croatia, were safer than many western European states. The report claimed the notorious image of “Balkan gangsters” was no longer valid.

But a spate of criminal and murderous incidents in Croatia show a trend more reminiscent of the chaotic post-war years of the late 1990s. An investigative reporter and two businessmen were badly beaten in recent months.

Mr Zagorec’s trial is expected to go ahead. The missing jewels were allegedly used as collateral in an arms deal at a time when Croatia had difficulty raising international loans. Reports in the Croatian media suggest they were donated by wealthy Croats, and even the Catholic church, as a contribution to the war effort.

Croatia murder prompts crackdown – By Nick Thorpe – BBC News – Published: 2008/10/08 10:52:56 GMT – Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/7658583.stm

Nikica Jelavic (38) called Boxer, was born in Gabela near Capljine. He finished high school and served his compulsory military service in Sarajevo. After serving in the army, Jelavic was a boxer for a while in the club “Metalac”, and this is why he gained the nickname “Boxer”. During the eighties, he mainly worked as a bouncer at various discos, and during the nineties he started to trade money. Today, he lives with his wife and three children in a villa worth a few million kuna in Zagreb’s Cmrok.

After the death of Zlatko Bagaric, Jelavic was called upon as the suspected successor to Bagaric’s criminal organization, and it is no secret that both of them were godfathers, and that they have always been very close. Shortly after Lazar Rodic killed the “big boss” of Zagreb’s underground in front of a café bar in the suburb of Dubrava, it is considered that Jelavic took over his business.

Clash of clans: Slisko-Jelavic
On the other hand, meaning opposition to Jelavic, is Vjeko Slisko, a man that the media said was the only person that could stand up to Bagaric’s clan.

Slisko slowly built his business with games machines, and started gathering an increasing number of supporters. Allegedly, Slisko started endangering the business that Jelavic was a successor to, and people from Bagaric’s clan were convinced that Slisko order the murder of Damir Dzebe. It was Jelavic who was a suspect for the attempted murder of Slisko at the start of 1995. At the time, unknown perpetrators fired automatic weapons at Vjeko Slisko and Juraj Dodic on Maksimir Street. Slisko was seriously injured in the shooting, and the first suspect to be arrested was Nikica Jelavic. However, due to a lack of evidence, he was soon freed of charges.

Jelavic was in a similar position after another attempted murder on Vjeko lisko in 1999, after which followed the spectacular arrest of the criminal organization, the infamous “boys from Knezija”.

He was accused of firing a handheld rocket (zolja) towards Slisko’s bullet-proof jeep in front of the cultural-information centre in Preradoviceva Street in the centre of Zagreb. The projectile, probably because of the close distance it was fired from, bounced off the car and hit the passer by Zoran Dominij in the stomach. Domini died instantly.

Jelavic was put on trial, a detailed reconstruction of the event was carried out, but he was released again.

The fall of the “boys from Knezija”
After the death of an innocent passer by, the Croatian police embarked on the largest arrest mission on Zagreb’s underground. The morning after the rocket attack in the centre of Zagreb, the following people were arrested: Nikica Jelavic (37), Rajko Momcilovic Riba (31), Velibor Momcilovic Lola (26), Davor Zecevic Zec (32), Djordje Vuletic Djoko (37), Tvrtko Tomicic Tvrdi (38), Radovan Stetic (40) and Miroslav Vukovic Olio (40). They were all considered to be members of Bagaric’s clan. Jelavic was freed of all charges just like many from the “criminal organization”, and he even filed a law suit against Croatia for the time he spent in confinement.

It is interesting to mention that after the boys from Knezija were arrested, Slisko told the press on one occasion that he does not know anybody from that group of people, and that he has absolutely nothing against them, and that he would not recognize Nikica Jelavic if they met on the street. In an attempt to explain to the police why there have been four attempted murders on him, Slisko said that it does not have anything to do with crime. Slikso gave the inspector an counter question “They shot at the Pope, does that mean that he is a criminal?”.

From a coffin for Franjo Tudjman to a building in Laniste
Jelavic has also been charged with other things besides running a criminal organization, for which 20 criminal acts are tied. He has been charged with the extortion of four million kuna from Vladimir Hartek and 20 million kuna from the company Kombial, which is owned by Ivan Majher, as well as hundreds of thousands of kuna from the doctor Boris Ljahnicky, which he carried out with his alleged partners Blaz Petrovic and Zoran Pripuz. Jelavic held the company “Palma” with Pripuz, which works with funeral services. Certain sources have given information that says that Franjo Tudjman’s coffin was ordered from Jelavic’s company.

Jelavic was arrested yesterday in Slovenia for deceit in a court proceeding in Germany. According to Interpol, he is also wanted for theft and an illegal stay. Now Jelavic has turned to construction work.

According to Globus, he has the main word as far as the construction of the new neighbourhood in Laniste is concerned, which is located next to the Zagreb’s future Arena (sports hall). He is also into a management job by controlling the career of his nephew and former player for the Hajduk football club, Nikica Jelavic.

However, now the uncrowned king of Zagreb’s underground will delay his business plans in Croatia, because he will probably face a two month stay in a Slovenian prison, after which he will move to the interior of Germany’s justice system.

Nikica Jelavic – Uncrowned King of Zagreb’s Mafia – Author Mladen Prenc – Translation Joseph Stedul – Published: July 11, 2008 02:46h – Javno.com – This story was found at: http://www.javno.com/en/croatia/clanak.php?id=163410

President of the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) Anto Djapic sent a clear message on Tuesday that his party strongly backed member of parliament Ruza Tomasic regarding recent threats sent to her by the narcotics circle in Dalmatia.

10 percent of Croatians connected with the drugs mafia

-Five million kuna circulate around the narcotics mafia and our police have a smaller budget than they do. But still, in the case of the narcotics mafia, the police do not act timely or with appropriate measures – Djapic said, adding that as many as ten percent of Croatians were connected with the narcotics circles in the negative sense. He also stressed that from now on dealing with the narcotics mafia was the top priority of his party.

-If we come to power, with Ruza Tomasic at the helm of the interior ministry, we also promise concrete results in the fight against this evil – Djapic said, stressing that issues such as the legalisation of light drugs were not an instrument in the fight against drugs, but concrete actions in capturing dealers are.

No jokes with the Slovenes

Djapic also commented on current topics on Croatia’s political scene, including the statement by President Stjepan Mesic, who joked about the “Slovene drawing of maps”.

-These are definitely not topics about which we should joke. I expect of the Croatian government primarily, as well as of the Foreign Minister, to give a firm and clear response to Slovene provocations – Djapic stressed, explaining that Slovene provocations harmed Croatia’s position in negotiations with the EU.

Bad timing for Faber

Answering to reporters’ questions about the recent developments regarding Branimir Glavas, Djapic stated that Glavas’s condition was not that critical that he had to be transported to Zagreb hospital. Such an act is not humane or legally regulated, Djapic said, not failing to comment on the promotion of Vladimir Faber, former head of Osijek police, now advisor to the minister of the interior.

-This is definitely bad timing for such a promotion because one can only reach one conclusion, which is that Faber was rewarded for everything that had happened concerning Glavas – Djapic said at the end of the conference.

Published: May 15, 2007 14:07 http://www.javno.com/en/croatia/clanak.php?id=44225

At a Social-Democratic Party convention (SDP) in Rijeka, party general board member Slavko Linic accused Prime Minister Ivo Sanader of “protecting the mafia”, the Jutarnji list daily writes.

-Sanader`s results are bad, whilst the money created in the country goes to the mafia, the country and the rich! Sanader and the government do nothing to prevent this- said Linic on Sunday.

Linic pointed out two Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) affairs, Brodosplit and Kolocep hotel, and called out three ministers- Vukelic, Damir Polancec and Ivan Suker.

-Brodosplit and Kolocep show organised crime collects a quarter of social profit, while the authorities do not do a thing to prevent this. Upon the disappearance of six million dollars from Brodosplit, everything is crystal clear. And this government not only does not do a thing against it, but quite the opposite, it protects everything- said Linic.

Objavljeno: 12.02.2007. u 09:27h http://www.javno.com/en/croatia/clanak.php?id=20163