The State Prosecutor's Office (USK) has brought charges against four individuals in relation to the leasing of public space in Novska. They are accused of abuse of office and authority, incitement to abuse, and forging official documents.
The investigation, launched in May, involves Danijela Jugović, a city official, and Dinka Matić, the former director of the tourist board, alongside local entrepreneurs Viktorija Brdar and Ljiljana Soč. Following the completion of the investigation, the case was transferred to the prosecution stage.
According to the indictment, Jugović and Matić facilitated the lease for the owner of a catering business, allowing him to rent municipal public space despite not meeting the required conditions. The tourist board had published a call for applications for the lease of public space during the summer event, with applicants required to submit their requests by 6 June.
The prosecution states that the applicant did not submit his request on time, but instead requested that he be allowed to set up his terrace after the deadline. According to the indictment, the director of the tourist office then contacted the municipal official authorised to issue certificates, informing her that the applicant's request was being submitted within the deadline. She also requested that the repayment agreement for his debt be dated prior to the deadline.
The prosecution states that the applicant then provided a false date of submission, which the director of the tourist office accepted as if it had been submitted on time. The municipal official, according to the indictment, prepared a repayment agreement for the debt owed to the municipality in the amount of 3,830.92 euros, also indicating a false date on the document. The document was then submitted to the mayor for signature, with the agreement recorded as authentic, the prosecution states. Following this, a contract was concluded allowing the applicant to use the public space for the terrace.
The second part of the indictment relates to the lease of a business in July. The starting price for the lease was 3,000 euros, and the sole bidder offered 3,050 euros. After her offer was accepted, she requested that the rent be reduced to 2,000 euros and the payment be deferred.
The prosecution states that the director agreed to this and signed a contract for 2,000 euros. The invoices, the prosecution states, were delayed until 10 September. The prosecution states that this resulted in an unlawful financial gain of 1,050 euros for the business owner.
The investigation into the four accused was launched on 6 May, following an operation by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (USKOK) in the area of Novska.
