The State Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK) has issued a decision to conduct an investigation against six suspects on suspicion of committing corrupt criminal offences as part of a criminal association within the sports federation. The investigation covers the period from 27 March 2026, focusing on organised activity aimed at acquiring undue financial gain to the detriment of the Federation.
In addition to the initial suspects, USKOK has expanded the investigation to include the I suspect, Vedran Pavlek, former secretary of the Croatian Skiing Federation, and the II suspect, another Croatian citizen born in 1966. The expansion is based on reasonable suspicion that they committed the criminal offences of accepting and giving bribes, as well as money laundering. Pavlek, identified as a key figure in the organisation of the association, is currently on the run in Kazakhstan.
A key part of the investigation focuses on agreements between Vedran Pavlek and Damir Šegota, former director of the Olympic Programme Office of the Croatian Olympic Committee (HOC), who is designated as the VII suspect. Šegota is suspected of having agreed with Pavlek to influence an increase in funds allocated to the Federation by the HOC. The funds were to be distributed through programme items that Šegota could approve for expenditure, thereby enabling the unauthorised distribution of money.
It is believed that Damir Šegota laundered money received as bribes together with his wife by investing in gold. Šegota received the money during the period from December 2023 to February 2025. After being arrested on Thursday, USKOK requested pre-trial detention for him, and a judge of the Zagreb County Court will make the decision.
During the arrest of Damir Šegota, his wife was also arrested, but she was released after questioning at USKOK, and no investigation has been opened against her. Šegota has submitted his resignation from his post as director of the Olympic Programme at the HOC.
