As part of an investigation into suspicious financing of Croatian sport, the Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK) has arrested Damir Šegota, director of the Olympic programme at the Croatian Olympic Committee (HOO). Alongside Šegota, his wife has also been arrested; proceedings are underway against her on suspicion of money laundering.
The investigation is based on evidence that Šegota was listed on a document belonging to Vedran Pavlek, director of the Alpine national teams at the Croatian Ski Association (HSS). The amount allegedly owed to Šegota on that list was 30,000 euros. The lead suspect in the HSS affair is Pavlek, who is currently at large, while the former long-serving general secretary of the Association, Damir Raos, is formally the highest-ranking person suspected of siphoning funds.
Under a USKOK order, the Police Directorate for the Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime (PNUSKOK) is carrying out urgent evidence-gathering operations. In addition to the arrests of Šegota and his wife, searches were also conducted at the home of HOO general secretary Siniša Krajač. The operations are aimed at collecting key evidence related to allegedly misallocated funds.
USKOK opened the investigation in March this year on suspicion of siphoning around 30 million euros from the HSS. A total of six people are suspected of the offences. The actions are being carried out to establish the entire chain of responsibility and recover funds intended for Croatian sport.
