Photograph of Ivan Kabalin, one of Topić's alleged victims

Summary: Response from Ivan Kabalin to Zeljko Peratovic's so-called "apology" which is both mysterious and seemingly inadequate as it does nothing to actually explain what was wrong (if anything)

NOT TOO long ago a man known as Željko Peratović, relying on key sources, published an important exposé about EPO Vice-President Željko Topić. Peratović later removed that piece, letting down not only his sources but also many Croatian people. Techrights has already covered this in length, e.g. here, here, here, and here.

We lay out the following text for readers' information (see original [PDF]), highlighting once again the suspicious and controversial nature of the so-called "apology":

Ivan Kabalin, dipl. ing. Nartska 11 10000 Zagreb E-mail: kabalin42@gmail.com

FOR THE ATTENTION OF THE EDITOR 45LINES.COM ZAGREB

Subject In response to the published article "Apology to Željko Topić: Review of the deleted text on the EPO" (http://45lines.com/isprika-zeljku-topicu-osvrt-na-obrisani-tekst-o-epo-u/) on the website of the portal 45lines.com on 16 December 2014 by Željko Peratović.

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

For the common good, and for the people from the union of employees of the EPO as well as many others, I have been trying to shed some light on "the person and work of Mr. Zeljko Topić, M.Sc”. Unfortunately, in this context a media person also happened to appear on the scene who may well have some serious mental health problems as he seems to be under the delusion that he has attained “enlightenment” and that he is obliged to publicly say all the best about Željko Topić (without the need to provide any arguments, of course).

I have explained to the local and international public who Željko Topić is and have described his actions in the Croatian Intellectual Property Office over a number of years in the interview available at:

http://tjedno.hr/cijeli-dziv-treba-u-remetinec/

[Headline: “The whole of the DZIV should be sent to Remetinec (i.e. the main state penitentiary in Zagreb)”]

So, the former Director of the State Intellectual Office, Mr. Željko Topić, should not and cannot be protected from criminal prosecution because he inflicted far greater damage on the Republic of Croatia than the corrupt and convicted former Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, about which OLAF will soon have the final say under the case number OF/2005/ 0390.

Since the domain of patents and intellectual property is the field where significant values are decided upon, it is very important that the positions of responsibility in the media are occupied by impeccable persons. Therefore, I feel the need to point out that in this case, a so-called investigative journalist Željko Peratović appeared who is now publicly repenting and apologizing for the revelation of some new details about Željko Topić and who is now praising him to the heavens.

In conclusion, a public question need to be asked: Why and what are the motives for the mocking and attempt silencing of credible sources and whistleblowers by the journalist Zeljko Peratovic in the "Topić affair"? In particular, it should be taken into account that the aforementioned person ran for the prestigious position of the President of Croatian Journalists' Association several years ago.

Zagreb, 15 January 2015.

Ivan Kabalin

Some of our readers went as far as insinuating that the EPO could have gone as far as paying Peratović. The EPO might be good at compensating staff financially, but the same can be said about the NSA, yet this does not excuse the NSA and the likes of it. The EPO used the so-called 'apology' from Peratović for PR. It tries to give Topić the 'von Braun treatment'. This apology is being challenged right now from several directions that suspect collusion, coercion, or even worse things (Topić intimidates critics, costing them a fortune using SLAPP). Peratović ought to speak out and explain his motives. ⬆