Dinamo Zagreb Bosses Remanded in Custody

Zagreb county court on Sunday refused the bail offer from Dinamo Zagreb football club executive president Zdravko Mamic and his brother, club manager Zoran Mamic, and remanded them both in custody prison for a month.

The homes and offices of the Mamic brothers, along with those of former club official, Damir Vrbanovic and tax administration official Milan Pernar, were searched last Thursday over allegations of tax fraud, bribery and other corrupt activities at the club.

Croatia's Office for Suppressing Corruption and Organized Crime, USKOK, claims that the Mamic brothers' criminal activities cost Dinamo 15.7 million euro and the state budget 1.6 million euro.

Media have speculated that a large part of this sum includes unpaid taxes for the transfer of renowned footballer Luka Modric from Dinamo to Tottenham Hotspur in London for 21 million euro.

USKOK demanded the custody remand because it claimed that the brothers could influence witnesses or commit more criminal acts. The Mamic brothers' lawyers have announced they will appeal against the decision.

The brothers were in Slovenia when the raids took place but returned on Saturday afternoon and were immediately arrested. They deny the allegations against them.

Vrbanovic was arrested on Saturday morning at Zagreb airport and remanded in custody on the same day, while Pernar has been on remand since Friday.

Mamic brother coming to USKOK for interogations, while their lawyer Cedo Prodanovic gives a statement for media.

Their lawyer Cedo Prodanovic said after they were questioned by USKOK that the charges were false.

"The amount which was mentioned... is absolutely wrong. It is the result of an incorrect interpretation of business documentation and documentation...