Former Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader sentenced to 10 years on corruption charges

The Associated Press

ZAGREB, Croatia - A court has found former Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader guilty on corruption charges and has sentenced him to 10 years in prison.

The 59-year-old, who served as prime minister from 2004 to 2009, is the highest ranking former official tried for graft in Croatia which has pledged to root out corruption as it becomes a European Union member in 2013.

Judges found him guilty of accepting a €10 million ($13 million) bribe from Hungarian oil company MOL in return for securing it controlling rights in Croatia's state oil company INA; and receiving €545,000 ($695,000) in kickbacks for a credit deal with Hypo Alpe Adria Group that gave the Austrian bank a leading position in Croatia.