Zagreb  - The Croatian parliament on Friday lifted the immunity from prosecution of a former government minister, now a legislator on the ruling party's ticket, paving the way to a high-profile corruption trial, national television HTV said.

A former minister of defence and interior, Berislav Roncevic can now face charges of corruption in connection with a purchase of vehicles for the military that allegedly cost the country 10.2 million kuna (2 million dollars) in 2004.

The investigation against Roncevic was launched in 2007 but was stalled while he served as the interior minister, reports said.

If charged, Roncevic, a member of Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor's ruling Croatian Democratic Union, will become the highest-ranking former official to go on a corruption trial in Croatia. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison.(dpa)