A FORMER Croatian defence minister standing trial for war crimes jointly runs a company from a house in Marlow, it is claimed.

Ivan Cermak is accused at an international court of ethnic cleansing by murder and destruction - and it is said that he is the man of the same name who runs Crodux Ltd out of a sleepy detached home in Marlow Bottom.

The house is occupied by company secretary Michael Collins and wife Kristina, 64, a director of the firm who is believed to be Croatian.

Records at Companies House list the firm as providing fuels, clothing, footwear, and household goods.

Yesterday Mr Collins refused to comment about the company's business or about the claims in a national newspaper.

He referred the Marlow Free Press to 58-year-old Mr Cermak in Zagreb, Croatia's capital.

At the time of going to press, no contact had been made.

However, The Times quoted Mr Collins as saying: "He's a businessman - he's not a military man at all."

There is no suggestion that the company is involved in any criminal activity.

More to come.