ZAGREB, CROATIA – Retired Croatian General Vladimir Zagorec has been sentenced to a seven-year prison term with the option to appeal at the County Court in Zagreb. The court also ordered him to give back the five million dollars, which is how much the stolen jewels had been appraised for.

- You have undoubtedly committed a crime, which is evident from the testimonies of Snjezana

Siprak, Hrvoje Petrac and Terezija Barbaric. I would like to stress that this is no conspiracy theory between the state, the justice system, the media and organised crime – presiding judge Sinisa Plese said in his explanation of the verdict, stressing that the witness testimonies were complementary and the court found them to be credible. 

The court did not believe the story of the German arms dealer; Joseph Rothaichner, who said he was just a courier. The court thinks he is an arms dealer who did not want to compromise himself.

- The court believes that the testimony of Hrvoje Petrac is truthful. In a letter he wrote to Ivo Pukanic, it is evident that he saw the jewels. What he wrote about “Opening” your case does not mean he rigged anything and as the witness himself said, the letter was written post festum, meaning after his trial – Plese said. He added that, according to the court, the descriptions of the box containing the jewels and the jewellery shop in Germany in which the jewels had been appraised, it is clear that Petrac had seen the jewels. The extenuating circumstances taken into consideration while passing the sentence, Judge Plese noted that Zagorec was a father of two, that he had no prior criminal record, as well as his doubtless contribution to the defence of the Republic of Croatia.

The state prosecution will appeal the sentence 

- But it is obvious that you used the purchase of weapons also for personal gain. Since you were a high-ranking officer, you should have performed your duty with honour. But you did not because you made great personal gain – Plese concluded.

Prosecutor Gordana Haramina Hranilovic said she was satisfied with the guilty verdict, but not the sentence, so the State Prosecution will file an appeal. Apart from Zagorec having to repay the five million dollars, he will also have to cover the cost of the trial in the amount of some 17,000 kuna.

The State Prosecution accused Zagorec of the crime of violating public duties and the misuse of office and powers on suspicion that he had stolen jewels that a German arms dealer, Joseph Rotcheichner, gave to the Croatian Defence Ministry as collateral for five mission dollars he was given to purchase weapons for the defence of Croatia. At that time, Zagorec was the defence minister’s advisor.

The story about the jewels came into public eye the first time during the re-trial of businessman Hrvoje Petrac for the kidnapping of Vladimir Zagorec’s son Tomislav. Petrac was a witness for the prosecution at the Zagorec trial. He testified that he saw green, red and blue jewels with Zagorec.

See the photographs from the courtroom in the photo gallery: Vladimir Zagorec Gets 7 Year Prison term