Testifying as a defence witness in the trial against Igor Bavčar and Boško Šrot, Janković, the former boss of retailer Mercator, said he had lodged the complaint based on an anonymous letter he had received in 2008.

He was quick to point out, though, that he had decided to go ahead with the charges not because of old grudges against Laško and Istrabenz, but because the conduct "cast a bad light on the directors' ranks".

This is the first time that Janković confirmed outright he was the man who pressed the charges.

Bavčar has insisted since the first police raids in September 2009 that the charges had been pressed by Janković over the failure of Istrabenz and Laško to sell Mercator stock to Janković in accordance with a 2005 agreement.

A similar point was also raised at today's proceedings by Šrot, who noted that Janković had sued Laško and Istrabenz several years ago but his claim was thrown out by the court.

Janković had claimed Istrabenz and Laško should have sold him Mercator stock as part of a partial management buyout, but the court ruled that their agreement was a non-binding letter of intent.

Šrot also asked Janković whether his company KLM still owned Mercator stock, to which Janković replied affirmatively.

Šrot and Bavčar are on trial for their role in a chain transaction in 2007 involving Istrabenz stock that is believed to have caused Pivovarna Laško financial harm of EUR 25m.

Two co-defendants, lawyer Branko Lipovec and owner of clothing and leisure group Sportina Bahtijar Bajrović, pleaded guilty in early April in exchange for suspended sentences.