ZAGREB, Sept 25, 2020 - Former President Stjepan Mesic on Friday confirmed that he had visited a club owned by former Janaf CEO Dragan Kovacevic, who has been arrested in the Janaf graft case, but he could not recall whether that was during the coronavirus lockdown, noting however that they kept their distance.
"I don't remember when I went to the club, perhaps it was in the midst of the coronavirus epidemic. However, if you keep your distance, everything is all right, and we did keep our distance," Mesic told reporters on Friday when asked whether it was contentious that he went to the club during the lockdown.
Mesic claimed that visitors did not have to leave their mobile phones at the entrance to the club.
"We spoke normally. I did not see incumbent President Zoran Milanovic there during the lockdown. I went at the invitation of my friend, Janaf CEO, but I cannot recall the details," said Mesic.
He added that he did not see what was contentious about him going to a "friendly encounter with the director of a large company."
Minister says he visited Kovacevic's club
Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Oleg Butkovic, too, said that he had visited Kovacevic's club twice, in June and August.
"In any case, since other senior officials, from incumbent President Zoran Milanovic to former president Mesic, had been there, I was curious to see what sort of club that was," said Butkovic and added that it is quite modest.
"I didn't leave my mobile phone at the entrance. I never part with it," he added.
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