Croatia Court Releases Bandic from Custody Prison

Croatia's Constitutional Court on Thursday released Mayor Milan Bandic from custody, acting on an appeal from his lawyers, who said his fundamental rights had been breached in March when the Zagreb County Court put him behind bars.

The court said Bandic had not broken the rules for remaining at liberty - for which he had paid bail - therefore the decision to order his transfer to custody had no foundation in law.

Bandic was placed in remand after the Zagreb County Court ruled that he had tried to influence a witness in the ongoing investigation into his affairs to give false testimony. He had also tried to forge official documents and obstruct the investigation, the court said.

Bandic's earlier ban on performing his mayoral duties remains in force and he is also banned from contacting witnesses in the investigation.

The 2-million-euro bail posted by his lawyer Marijan Hanzekovic will now be returned by the state and put at the disposal of the Zagreb court.

Bandic left jail on Thursday afternoon, saying "Thank you, thank you everyone," getting into a car driven by one of his associates.

The mayor of the Croatian capital was arrested in October 2014 on suspicion of corruption, abuse of office and influence peddling.

He was intially placed in remand for the duration of the investigation but was released on bail a month later.

In allowing the release, the court said Bandic may not resume office, obstruct the investigation, influence witnesses or repeat any of his alleged criminal deeds.

He was banned from communicating with any possible witnesses until the investigation was over.

Bandic is also being probed by Croatia's Office for Supression of Corruption and Organised Crime, USKOK, concerning a donation to a...