By Veronika Gulyas
Croatia's anti-corruption and counter-organized crime office
Uskok filed criminal charges against the chief executive of
Hungary's oil company MOL Nyrt (MOL.BU)., a Croatian court
spokesman said Tuesday.
The company, however, dismissed the case as
politically-motivated amid continuing wrangling over control of a
Croatian oil firm.
MOL isn't aware of any criminal charges against Chief Executive
and Chairman Zsolt Hernádi, the company said on Tuesday, but
acknowledged "recent press reports" that he had been
charged--reports confirmed by Kresimir Devcic, a Zagreb court
spokesman.
The Croatian move comes amid an ensuing legal battle between
Croatia and MOL related to a bribery case in which, in 2012, former
Croatian prime minister Ivo Sanader was convicted of accepting
bribes while he was in office to allow MOL to have management
rights over Croatian peer INA, according to a Croatian court.
MOL has repeatedly denied all the Croatian allegations. The
company said Mr. Hernádi has demonstrated to the MOL board's "full
satisfaction" why the allegations are unfounded and why the case is
without merit.
The Zagreb court now has up to two months to evaluate Uskok's
file on the case. Once the court gives the go-ahead, the trial may
start within a month from that date, Mr. Devcic said.
The trial would also begin even in the absence of Mr. Hernádi if
the Uskok file gets the green light, the court spokesman said. This
comes after a Budapest court declined the extradition of Mr.
Hernádi on the grounds that a Hungarian criminal investigation has
found Mr. Hernádi innocent.
The Croatian government wants to regain control over INA, in
which it holds a 44.8% stake following its privatization in 2003.
MOL owns a controlling 49.1% and the firm's management rights.
Write to Veronika Gulyas at veronika.gulyas@wsj.com