Text of report by Croatian TV on 9 December

[Presenter] Assembly deputies from the Independent Democratic Serb Party [SDSS] have asked the government to freeze the work of the agency for the purchase and sale of real estate until the state attorney's office and revision department check the purchase of almost 10,000 houses which used to be owned by Serb returnees. They suspect that the agency bought them unlawfully.

[Reporter Igor Duic] SDSS deputy Milorad Pupovac says the agency for sale of real estate is buying houses of returnees without their knowledge and assent. They found out about suspicious deals a few days ago and still do not know how many of them there are.

[Pupovac] This is daylight robbery under the protection of the state and in cooperation with organized crime.

[Reporter] SDSS deputy Ratko Gajica explained that cheats pretending to have proper authorization papers with forged signatures were acting on behalf of the owners. [Name withheld for libel reasons] from Vukovar and [Name withheld for libel reasons] from Novi Sad are the most frequently mentioned names.

Although it sounds impossible, the SDSS says the agency is paying cash instead of paying money into owners' accounts.

A similar thing happened to Nikola Vucko from Knin, whose house was sold in September.

[Nikola Vucko] When you eagerly await for someone to take pity on you and return your property to you, so you can get into it with your family, you are shocked when you find out that someone, some state institution sold your house without your knowledge and approval.

[Reporter] The minister of maritime affairs, transport, tourism and development, Bozidar Kalameta, is a member of the managing board of the agency for sale of real estates. He told us by phone that he had not received any information about alleged criminal activities so far. He urged the SDSS to forward all documents. He added that this would be discussed at a session of the agency's managing board next week.

Source: HRT1 TV, Zagreb, in Croatian 1830 gmt 9 Dec 04