Tomislav Horvatinčić to remain in Remetinec prison

An extraordinary council of the Zagreb County Court has denied entrepreneur Tomislav Horvatinčić's request for house arrest, ruling that he must remain in the Remetinec investigative prison. The decision follows an appeal by the prosecution, which successfully overturned a previous ruling that would have allowed Horvatinčić to serve his detention at home under electronic monitoring.

Horvatinčić, who is nearly 79 years old and an oncology patient, was arrested after photographic evidence surfaced showing him driving a vehicle despite a standing judicial ban. The ban originated from a 2011 maritime accident that resulted in the deaths of an Italian couple. While Horvatinčić's defense argued he believed his driving ban had expired following a recent medical clearance and the issuance of a new driver's license, the court noted that obtaining a license does not automatically lift a specific judicial prohibition on driving.

The current detention period is set to last until at least October 25, at which point a new decision regarding the extension or termination of his investigative detention will be made. Horvatinčić faces charges for failing to comply with a court decision, an offense that carries a potential prison sentence of up to two years.