30 questioned over Pukanić murder

Three days after the murder of journalist and publisher Ivo Pukanic in Zagreb, Croatia, about 30 people have been taken into custody by police for questioning. The police’s national anti-corruption and organized crime department, which the media has dubbed the “Croatian FBI”, has also begun work on the case. 30 questioned over Pukanic murder According to unofficial media reports, the investigation is focusing on former members of elite military and police units who went through special training. Police Chief Vladimir Faber did not confirm or deny the information. Police spokeswoman Aleksandra Ljuba confirmed that a number of people had been taken into custody regarding the murder of the co-owner of weekly Nacional. She confirmed that people had been arrested in Zagreb, Vukovar and Rijeka, adding that several had already been released after it was established that they were not involved in the murder of Pukanic and his colleague Niko Franjic. “Everyone brought in took a lie detector test, and their alibis were checked during the informative conversation,” Ljuba said. However, she did not say how many people precisely had been taken into custody or how many had been released, nor did she comment on media claims that members of special police and military units were arrested as well as some people known to have connections with drug dealing circles. According to media reports, about 30 people were arrested, some of whom were arrested at the border crossing between Croatia and Serbia at Bajakovo . Friends and colleagues of Pukanic were interviewed in Zagreb, but his wife Mirjana has yet to be questioned. “I know that I have political protection and that is it. No one has contacted me about an interview, but I expect that they will question me, they know where I am,” Mirjana Pukanic said. The leader of the so-called Croatian FBI, Tihomir Kralj, has the task of leading a political investigation and action against organized crime and corruption on a national level. However, Police Chief Krunoslav Borovec said that time would be needed for the agency to complete its staffing. Ljuba confirmed that many calls were coming in from citizens regarding the police sketch of a suspect who was seen in the car park where the murder was committed at the time of the crime, but the suspect’s identity has yet to be confirmed. Pukanic was killed by a bomb planted in his car. The murder scene on Thursday (FoNet, archive) Slain journalist laid to rest Ivo Pukanic, the slain co-owner of the Zagreb weekly Nacional, was buried on Oct. 27, at a cemetery in his hometown of Velika Gorica. Along with Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, who was Pukanovic's close friend, journalists and public figures attended the funeral, including Croatian Science, Education and Sports Minister Dragan Primorac, who came on behalf of Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader as he was on a trip to Israel. Pukanic's estranged wife, Mirjana, did not attend the burial. The Pukanics were in the process of getting a divorce. In his eulogy, Srecko Jurdana, a journalist and commentator for Nacional, fiercely condemned those journalists who had not believed Pukanic when he warned he would be murdered. He also said that the police were directly accountable for Pukanic's murder because they did nothing to protect him. Heavy police security encircled the area around the cemetery. The neighboring streets were closed and a special traffic regime was in force in all others. A memorial assembly for Pukanic was held in Zagreb on Oct. 27. One of the speakers was former U.S. ambassador William Montgomery. Pukanic and Nacional marketing head Niko Franjic were killed late on Oct. 23 when a bomb exploded in the courtyard of the Nacional editorial office. Franjic will be buried on Oct. 28 at a cemetery in Bosnjaci, where he was born.

30 questioned over Pukanić murder

According to unofficial media reports, the investigation is focusing on former members of elite military and police units who went through special training.

Police Chief Vladimir Faber did not confirm or deny the information.

Police spokeswoman Aleksandra Ljuba confirmed that a number of people had been taken into custody regarding the murder of the co-owner of weekly Nacional.

She confirmed that people had been arrested in Zagreb, Vukovar and Rijeka, adding that several had already been released after it was established that they were not involved in the murder of Pukanić and his colleague Niko Franjić.

“Everyone brought in took a lie detector test, and their alibis were checked during the informative conversation,” Ljuba said.

However, she did not say how many people precisely had been taken into custody or how many had been released, nor did she comment on media claims that members of special police and military units were arrested as well as some people known to have connections with drug dealing circles.

According to media reports, about 30 people were arrested, some of whom were arrested at the border crossing between Croatia and Serbia at Bajakovo .

Friends and colleagues of Pukanić were interviewed in Zagreb, but his wife Mirjana has yet to be questioned.

“I know that I have political protection and that is it. No one has contacted me about an interview, but I expect that they will question me, they know where I am,” Mirjana Pukanić said.

The leader of the so-called Croatian FBI, Tihomir Kralj, has the task of leading a political investigation and action against organized crime and corruption on a national level. However, Police Chief Krunoslav Borovec said that time would be needed for the agency to complete its staffing.

Ljuba confirmed that many calls were coming in from citizens regarding the police sketch of a suspect who was seen in the car park where the murder was committed at the time of the crime, but the suspect’s identity has yet to be confirmed.

Pukanić was killed by a bomb planted in his car.

Slain journalist laid to rest

Ivo Pukanić, the slain co-owner of the Zagreb weekly Nacional, was buried on Oct. 27, at a cemetery in his hometown of Velika Gorica.

Along with Croatian President Stjepan Mesić, who was Pukanović's close friend, journalists and public figures attended the funeral, including Croatian Science, Education and Sports Minister Dragan Primorac, who came on behalf of Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader as he was on a trip to Israel.

Pukanić's estranged wife, Mirjana, did not attend the burial. The Pukanićs were in the process of getting a divorce.

In his eulogy, Srećko Jurdana, a journalist and commentator for Nacional, fiercely condemned those journalists who had not believed Pukanić when he warned he would be murdered.

He also said that the police were directly accountable for Pukanić's murder because they did nothing to protect him.

Heavy police security encircled the area around the cemetery. The neighboring streets were closed and a special traffic regime was in force in all others.

A memorial assembly for Pukanić was held in Zagreb on Oct. 27. One of the speakers was former U.S. ambassador William Montgomery.

Pukanić and Nacional marketing head Niko Franjić were killed late on Oct. 23 when a bomb exploded in the courtyard of the Nacional editorial office.

Franjić will be buried on Oct. 28 at a cemetery in Bošnjaci, where he was born.