According to unofficial sources the Reporter weekly reports that constitutional judges will annul the guilty verdicts of the opposition SDS president, Janez Janša, brigadier Tone Krkovič and procurator Ivan Črnkovič, and order a retrial at the district court.

The Constitutional Court responded by saying that judges continued to examine the appeals of the above-mentioned in the Patria case today, however a final decision has not yet been made.

Court president Miroslav Mozetič predicted in March that the matter would be decided by the May Day holidays.

Courts found Janša, Krkovič, and Črnkovič guilty of bribery-related charges in the purchase of armoured personnel carriers from Finnish Patria.

The three appealed the verdict at the Ljubljana Higher Court, however their appeals were unsuccessful and the three had to go to Dob prison. The three then filed an appeal at the Supreme Court, which also turned them down. They then turned to help from the Constitutional Court.

In December last year the Constitutional Court granted temporary injunction for Janez Janša until the final ruling. Janša therefore awaits the ruling in freedom, while Črnkovič and Krkovič are still in prison.

Al. Ma.; translated by K. J.