October 16 (SeeNews) - Top executives of Croatia's Agrokor have been arrested on Monday morning under a investigation into suspected white-collar crime and counterfeiting in the ailing concern, according to a live-stream of the police action on HRT public broadcaster.
Ivica Todoric, owner of Croatia's largest privately-held group, is said to be out of the country.
Police raids involving some 300 police officers are currently underway at an estimated 60 locations in the city, according to the HRT live-stream.
A number of them are currently searching Todoric's Zagreb residence, where members of his family are presumed to be.
Todoric himself, however, is not in the country, his attorney Jadranka Slokovic told the media on Monday. She noted that he is not on the run, but that his return will depend on new developments.
Among those arrested on Monday morning are former financial executive at Agrokor, Ivan Crnjac; senior executive vice-president Ljerka Puljic - Todoric's closest associate; Todoric's son-in-law and executive vice-president for central procurement and corporate services, Hrvoje Balent; as well as several other members of the concern's management and supervisory boards.
According to local media reports, the state attorney will decide as early as Monday whether to propose to remand the arrested persons. If the investigating judge decides to impose pre-trial detention, the persons may be held for up to 12 months without charges being laid, according to law.
The Chief State Prosecutor's Office (DORH) announced on Monday that a preliminary investigation of suspected white-collar crime and counterfeiting is underway in Zagreb. DORH did not disclose the name of the company under investigation but noted that 15 persons were currently being searched on warrants issued by an investigating judge.
So far, DORH and Croatia's police have been unwilling to release any further information. DORH did, however, say that Monday's police action is a continuation of a months-long investigation and is based on verified facts.