ZAGREB, 22 April (2022) - The State Attorney's Office (DORH) said on Friday it was conducting inquiries into Construction, Physical Planning and State Assets Minister Ivan Paladina and examining criminal complaints filed against him.

DORH said Paladina confirmed that complaints had been filed against him and that, after examining some of them, it decided to dismiss them.

DORH said it requested that the remaining complaints be examined.

According to the Index web portal, prosecutors are looking into Paladina's acquisition of bonds in the IGH construction company.

Paladina says nothing new in report on inquiries

Responding to DORH's press release, the minister said it contained "absolutely nothing new."

"It is already known that my former partners filed several criminal complaints against me, nearly all of which have been dismissed, as confirmed by DORH today. As far as I know, the procedure in one or two complaints is not over yet," he told Hina.

"After a criminal complaint has been filed against you, DORH must look into it," he added.

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ZAGREB, 8 April (2022) - Construction Minister Ivan Paladina said on Friday that after stepping into office he had informed his colleagues at the Ministry that he would no longer be involved in the Kupari tourism project, adding that the two complaints sent to the Conflict of Interest Commission were unfounded.

The Conflict of Interest Commission has confirmed receipt of two complaints over whether the newly-appointed minister should have stated the value of securities, rather than receivables, in his declaration of assets.

Addressing the press after a cabinet meeting, Paladina said he had declared his assets to the Conflict of Interest Commission two or three days after becoming minister and that he had consulted them on the steps he should take, in particular regarding the Kupari project.

Paladina said he had filled in his declaration of assets according to the Commission's instructions and following advice from legal experts.

Earlier on Friday, the Conflict of Interest Commission advised Paladina against participating in decision making on a project to build a hotel resort in Kupari near Dubrovnik.

Paladina said he had already recused himself from the project by transferring his powers to the ministry's state secretary and added that within the next 30 days he would transfer his managing rights over his share.

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