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Accountant accused: 'I don't feel guilty, I did what I could and propose the court acquit me'
๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ท Croatia /Crime & Justice

Accountant accused: 'I don't feel guilty, I did what I could and propose the court acquit me'

From Veฤernji List · (3h ago) Croatian

Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • An accountant, Suzana Kos, denies charges of abuse of office and document forgery at the National and University Library (NSK).
  • She claims she acted under significant personal and professional pressure, including a serious illness and the death of her daughter.
  • Kos alleges that her superior was aware of irregularities but did nothing, and she is seeking acquittal.

The trial of Suzana Kos, a former head of accounting at the National and University Library (NSK), brings to light a complex case of alleged financial misconduct. As reported by Veฤernji List, Kos vehemently denies the charges, presenting a defense that emphasizes immense personal hardship and professional duress. Her testimony paints a picture of an individual struggling with a severe diagnosis and the loss of her daughter, all while allegedly facing pressure from superiors who were complicit in or ignored irregularities. This narrative, focusing on the human element within a legal battle, highlights the challenges faced by individuals in positions of responsibility, especially when navigating personal crises alongside professional duties. The Croatian perspective often emphasizes resilience and integrity in the face of adversity, and Kos's defense attempts to frame her actions within this context, suggesting she did her best under impossible circumstances. The case also raises questions about accountability within public institutions and the impact of hierarchical structures on individual decision-making.

Ne osjeฤ‡am se krivom. U inkriminirano vrijeme borila sam se s raznim pritiscima, s teลกkom dijagnozom i smrti kฤ‡eri. Na kraju sam zavrลกila na trajnom bolovanju. Uฤinila sam najviลกe ลกto sam mogla, kada se u obzir uzmu pritisci kojima sam bila izloลพena.

โ€” Suzana KosIn her defense statement at the trial, Suzana Kos asserted her innocence, detailing the severe personal and professional pressures she faced.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Veฤernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.