Domagoj Katalin and Ivan Puškarić have reached a plea deal with the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in the Geodetic Faculty affair. Katalin was sentenced to 11 months in prison, replaced by community service, along with a fine of €50,000 and the confiscation of illicit financial gains. Puškarić received a suspended sentence of six months with a two-year probation period. Both men must cover the costs of the proceedings.
According to the prosecution, Katalin participated in extracting money from the Geodetic Faculty through contracts with inflated prices via his company. He allegedly returned part of the funds obtained to former dean Almin Đapo and professor Boško Pribičević. He is also charged with producing a free design for former dean Đapo's family home in Pisarovina.
The EPPO charged Puškarić with abusing the public procurement system to secure work for his company on the renovation of faculty buildings. At the centre of the affair are former dean Đapo and professor Pribičević. The prosecution alleges that between May 2019 and November 2023, they organised 27 public procurement procedures under four projects worth €5.9 million, largely financed by EU funds. They are suspected of rigging tenders and awarding contracts to linked companies, as well as spending EU fund money on personal needs, including the purchase of two luxury vehicles and a motorboat used for rental in nautical tourism. They are also charged with falsifying more than 200 travel expense reports and daily allowances.
Former assistant to the Minister of Culture, Davor Trupković, is also involved in the case. The EPPO charges him with unlawfully awarding work on 3D documentation of earthquake-damaged buildings to the Geodetic Faculty. According to the indictment, he approved reports with falsified and inflated prices without verification and confirmed reports showing falsely presented or already paid work and unjustifiably increased amounts.
It is estimated that the actions of the accused group caused total material damage of €2.8 million. The EU budget was damaged by €1.2 million, the Croatian budget by €1.4 million, while the remaining €200,000 relates to damage caused to the Geodetic Faculty.
Of the initial 29 defendants, 13 have admitted guilt. Court proceedings continue against the others, and among those who have not admitted guilt are former dean Đapo, professor Pribičević and former ministerial assistant Trupković.
