Časar, who ran Luka Koper under the 2004-2008 rule of the Democrats (SDS) when the company was defrauded of EUR 2.2m through real estate deals involving the trio, moreover received a ban on serving in executive post in companies.

The prosecution claimed that Prijatelj, a former deputy of the the former opposition National Party (SNS), had talked Časar and Mikuž, who ran a real estate business, into a partnership in an overpriced acquisition of land and real estate by Luka Koper.

Mikuž's company was picked as a mediator and received a commission of EUR 742,000 from Luka Koper, of which EUR 86,000 was earmarked for Časar and EUR 245,000 for Prijatelj.

Prijatelj, who was caught red-handed receiving EUR 320,000 in cash from Mikuž - who had cooperated with the police - is already serving a four-year prison sentence for extortion in relation to the real-estate deals and illegal possession of firearms, of which he was found guilty in 2010.

The district state prosecutor had demanded a six-year prison sentence for Časar, three years for Prijatelj and two years for Mikuž.

The legal representative of Luka Koper as the injured party meanwhile proposed that Časar and Mikuž pay for the EUR 2.2m in damage suffered by the company.

Meanwhile, Časar is also on trial over suspicions deals made by Luka Koper in Romania as well as over signing fictitious private security contracts worth tens of thousands of euros.