A former employee of the Ministry of Defence, a Croatian Army officer and captain, has been conditionally sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for three years, for fraud related to transport cost reimbursement. The Municipal Court in Virovitica determined that he defrauded the Ministry of Defence of 191,948.27 kuna, or slightly more than €25,477.
According to the verdict, the 44-year-old was employed by the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia, in the Supply Company, and worked at the "Hrvatski ždral" military warehouse complex in Doljani. From 2 September 2011 to 31 January 2023, he submitted applications for transport cost reimbursement listing Našice as his place of residence, but the court found that he actually lived at a different address, from which he commuted to work and back every day.
To qualify for reimbursement, he attached certificates of registered residence and documentation of his assignment to the workplace in Doljani. Based on this information, the relevant services of the Ministry of Defence approved his transport reimbursement for the Našice–Doljani route and return, without suspecting the truthfulness of the provided data. He submitted applications on multiple occasions, including in 2011, 2013 and twice in 2022.
Based on the approvals issued, transport costs were paid to him for over 11 years, although he did not meet the conditions for this, according to the verdict. The court concluded that by falsely presenting facts, he misled the relevant officials and thereby obtained an undue financial benefit, causing damage to the Ministry of Defence. He was convicted of the aggravated criminal offence of fraud, whereby a significant financial benefit was obtained.
He was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended with a three-year probation period. The court accepted the Ministry of Defence's civil claim and ordered him to repay the state €25,475.91 within 15 days of the verdict becoming final. For the remaining €1.69, the Ministry was directed to seek reimbursement in civil proceedings. The injured Ministry of Defence had claimed €25,477.60, but expert assessment confirmed that he had been paid €1.69 less.
The convicted man, who is currently listed as unemployed, must also cover the costs of the criminal proceedings amounting to €105.70 and pay an additional €500 in lump-sum costs, also within 15 days of the verdict becoming final. This verdict was published only a few weeks after a sergeant from Bjelovar was convicted for identical conduct.
