ZAGREB, Croatia, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- An arrest warrant was issued for former Croatian Prime Minister Ivor Sanader, who left the country during a corruption inquiry, officials said.
Officials said Sanader crossed into Slovenia Thursday hours before Parliament was to vote to lift his immunity from prosecution for alleged crimes during his time as prime minister, the BBC reported.
Sanader was prime minister from 2003 to 2009.
Croatian officials submitted the arrest warrant to Interpol, seeking his return to Croatia to face charges.
Croatian President Ivo Josipovic called Sanader's departure "a big defeat of the system. This case is an example that will show whether the system of responsibility in Croatia is functioning or not."
Sanader resigned as prime minister in July 2009 and he was expelled from the HDZ party in January but he continued as an independent member of Parliament, the report said.
An attorney for Sanader said he was on a scheduled business trip and would return to Croatia "within the next three or four days."
The European Union is pressuring Croatia to attack corruption as a condition of membership.
