We have already reported that the former CEO of hardware retailer Merkur was yesterday released from the semi-open section of the Dob prison, where he had been serving a six year and five month prison sentence since June 2013 for abuse of office and forgery in the resale of Primskovo shopping centre.

Ruling not overturned (yet?)
"The ruling has not been overturned (unlike some media have reported). The senate concluded that there were valid reasons for the Supreme Court to order that Kordež be released from prison. The penitentiary had been notified of this decision as required by law," the Supreme Court said in a press release, adding that the decision is not final because the Supreme Court had not yet received from the prosecution details of the appeals of the other two co-defendants in the same case.

"We have not yet received these answers, hence we are unable to reach a decision at this moment. We will try to do so forthwith, as soon as the formal requirements are met," the Supreme Court has said. "We expect a decision within a month," Supreme Court representative Gregor Strojin added.

Kordež "very likely" to succeed
Strojin pointed out that this was an interim conclusion which does not prejudge the final ruling. However, he also explained that an order to release a convict from prison is usually issued when the convict has a high chance of succeeding in his or her appeal.

Kordež believes reassessment will lead to a different conclusion
Following his release, Kordež said in a public statement: "I hope the Supreme Court had decided that there were serious reasons to doubt the ruling and my sentence," adding that he cannot yet comment on why he had been released: "I believe that this opens the possibility of reassessing whether my business decisions were unlawful as presented in the rulings."

His attorney, Janez Hočevar, told the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) that he expected a ruling within 2-3 weeks.

T. K. B. , B. V. ;
translated by D.V.