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The Supreme Court said today the five-judge panel had reached a decision but would not reveal it until the ruling is written, presumably within a month.

Reporter magazine and the daily Večer meanwhile reported in their online editions that the appeals have been rejected.

Janša had suggested long before the Supreme Court appeal on a point of law was lodged that he would seek further recourse.

SDS deputy Branko Grims told the press that if the reports were true, "the epilogue of the story will be played out at the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights."

Committee 2014, a group that has been staging daily pro-Janša protests in front of the Supreme Court, said the decision was expected given that the panel featured Supreme Court President Branko Masleša, "who has proved in the past that his professional independence is highly questionable."

The Assembly for the Republic, a civil outfit with close ties to Janša, meanwhile protested against the decision saying the justices ought to have decided to release Janša even if they rejected the appeal.

Janša appealed a two-year prison sentence that he received after he was found guilty of bribery-related charges, while Tone Krkovič and Ivan Črnkovič lodged appeals against their 22-month prison sentences.

Janša and Krkovič are both already in prison while Črnkovič was supposed to report to prison on 4 October but today requested deferral due to recent surgery.

All three have maintained innocence and claim the Patria trial was staged for the purposes of political denigration of Janša.