Kalmeta sentenced to 10 months but acquitted of major corruption charges

Former HDZ minister Božidar Kalmeta has been handed a partially suspended prison sentence of two years and six months for abuse of office related to the production of an HDZ promotional film using public funds in 2007.

Under the ruling, Kalmeta will serve 10 months in prison and repay 81,000 euros.

At the same time, Kalmeta was acquitted of all other charges — including more serious allegations of embezzlement and corruption — in the long-running HAC-Remorker case.

Speaking to reporters after leaving court, Kalmeta welcomed the dismissal of the most serious charges and announced plans to appeal the conviction related to the

 promotional film.

“I am very pleased that the serious criminal charges have been dismissed for the second time. We are left with the promotional film matter. I respect the court’s ruling, but we will appeal and hope it will be resolved by a higher court, as my attorney and I believe it should be,” Kalmeta said.

The indictment had accused Kalmeta and several co-defendants of embezzling money from the state-owned road operator HAC. However, the court acquitted not only Kalmeta but also his long-time associate and former state secretary Zdravko Livaković, along with public company executives Milivoj Mikulić, Stjepko Boban, and Sandro Vukelić.

The acquittals came despite testimony from businessman Igor Premilovac and former HAC finance director Josip Sapunar, both of whom had reached plea agreements with prosecutors and described how the alleged embezzlement scheme operated. The court did not accept their testimony as sufficiently relevant evidence.

Leaving the courthouse, Kalmeta struck a defiant tone.

“I am leaving this building proudly and with my head held high,” he said.

The prosecution, however, said it would challenge the ruling.

“We will appeal the sentence. Of course, I am not satisfied with the rest of the ruling either. In our view, the court should have found witness Josip Sapunar’s testimony credible and taken into account evidence supporting his claims. Had the court done so, I believe it would have reached a different verdict,” prosecutor Petra Parlov said.

The High Criminal Court will decide on appeals and the finality of the verdict.