The Office for Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK) is conducting an investigation into the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) as a legal person for abuse in connection to the agency Fimi media, which was used to suck money out of state companies and ministries and into the pockets of HDZ leaders and party funds.

HDZ official and Health Minister Darko Milinovic confirmed for the daily Vjesnik that the investigation into HDZ has been expanded, but denied Thursday morning making any statement about the investigation.

So far the investigation has focused on 17 people, and in addition to the party itself, new suspects are its former spokesman Ratko Macek and former general secretary Ivan Jarnjak.

Prime Minister and HDZ leader Jadranka Kosor is expected to address the situation, but she is not on the list of suspects herself because the period under investigation is from 2005 to 2009. The financing of her presidential campaign in 2005 is suspect.

This is the first time a party is under investigation in Croatia and the ruling party at that.

Last year, former customs head and HDZ treasurer Mladen Barisic admitted that he gave one part of the money to former prime minister Ivo Sanader every month, and took the second part to accountant Branka Pavosevic at the HDZ, which she confirmed.