Former Minister of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Construction Bozidar Kalmeta was sentenced on Friday at the Zagreb County Court to a partially suspended prison sentence of two-and-a-half years, of which he must serve 10 months in prison, for corruption in the retrial of the “Remorker” and “Croatian Traffic Renaissance” cases.
The former minister, who for many years was Mayor of Zadar, was convicted of ordering the production of a film, Croatian Traffic Renaissance, from the company Fimi Media for the Ministry of Transport and for political propaganda purposes, costing the state budget €81,247.
The Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organized Crime, USKOK, also charged Kalmeta with extracting just over €220,000 from state road companies through the company Remorker. Its owner, Igor Premilovac, admitted that he withdrew the money through his foreign company and, after taking a commission, returned it “into his hands”.
Under the verdict, which is not final, Kalmeta, who pleaded not guilty, will serve 10 months in prison. The rest of his sentence will be suspended subject to a four-year probation period. He must also repay €81,000 to the state.
The retrial took place after the Supreme Court in September 2022 overturned his earlier acquittal.
In addition to Kalmeta, Damir Kezele, who served in the same ministry between 2003 and 2011 under the governments of Ivo Sanader and Jadranka Kosor, also received a partially suspended two-year prison term for corruption committed 20 years ago. He must serve six months of this sentence in prison.
Kalmeta is a long-time member of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union, HDZ, although he no longer holds any senior public office. He was minister for two consecutive terms, from 2003 to 2011.
“Regardless of today’s verdict, Bozidar Kalmeta’s contribution to the remarkable progress and development of Zadar and Zadar County remains unquestionable. I express my full support for Kalmeta and believe in his eventual acquittal,” said Josip Bilaver, the HDZ Zadar County Prefect, commenting on the verdict.
“The court proceedings are not over, and I believe there will be an opportunity for Kalmeta to prove his innocence as the proceedings continue,” Zadar Mayor and HDZ member Sime Erlic said following the verdict.