President of the County Court in Zagreb Ivan Turudić said that the trial of former prime minister Ivo Sanader is very difficult in many ways. Asked whether it was the most difficult case of his entire career, he said that “it certainly belongs to the top three cases”. “It is difficult because of all the elements: the importance of the case, the atmosphere around the courtroom, the size of the case itself… It is a very difficult case”, said Turudić whose first verdict was overturned a month ago by the Constitutional Court. A retrial has been ordered for two cases concerning Sanader, in Hypo and INA-MOL affairs, reports Vecernji List on August 25, 2015.

The judge panel of the Zagreb County Court will decide on Wednesday whether Sanader will be released from the remand prison or whether he will have to stay in the Remetinec prison. The retrial in the cases of Hypo and INA-MOL will start on 7 September. Asked whether he was the one who made the decision that he will personally preside over the retrial, Turudić answered that he did not and that it was a normal decision made according to the law.

“The retrial was ordered in the case, but the Constitutional Court did not say that the case should be referred to different judge, so there is no problem”, said Turudić. Sanader’s lawyers have objected that the first retrial hearing date has been scheduled too early, but the president of the County Court said that he acted according to the law, since just a month needs to pass for a retrial to start.

He said that, since the opening of an investigation against his friends, brothers Zdravko and Zoran Mamić, he has not seen or heard from them. “I have no need to see or hear them, but even if it were to happen, that would not be controversial. I am not a participant in their proceedings”, said Turudić adding that he will not participate in the trial of the brothers, if the case ever goes to a trial.