Croatian Actor's 15-Year Kafkaesque Battle Against False Accusation

This is a story that truly tests the patience and resilience of any individual, and for a prominent figure like Dražen Mikulić, a celebrated actor of the Croatian National Theatre, the ordeal has been particularly agonizing. For 15 years, Mikulić has been caught in a legal labyrinth, a real-life "Process" reminiscent of Kafka's novel, all due to a case of mistaken identity involving an unregistered ice cream vendor in Šibenik.

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I, as Dražen Mikulić, am guilty of not hiring an ice cream vendor in Šibenik near the cathedral at the stand, not registering her for pension and health insurance, and I was summoned to Šibenik to explain myself.

What began as a seemingly absurd accusation – being held responsible for not registering an employee selling ice cream – escalated into a Kafkaesque nightmare. Despite Mikulić's consistent claims of innocence, his lack of presence in Šibenik during the alleged incident, and his provision of alibis and evidence, the legal system seemed determined to hold him accountable. The initial ruling by the Misdemeanor Court in Šibenik, ordering him to pay a fine, was based on the word of an individual named Branka M., who claimed to have worked for him.

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I sent, of course, in the explanation that I don't know who this Branka is, I have never been to Šibenik, I did not sell ice cream, I cannot come to the hearing because of this and that, a confirmation from the theater and so on.

The situation highlights a distressing aspect of the legal process where a person's identity can be so easily misattributed, leading to years of struggle. Mikulić's account of being told by a judge that he "could have brought his own ice cream chest" underscores the frustrating disconnect between his reality and the court's proceedings. The eventual testimony of Branka M. herself, while seemingly confirming her employment, did not clarify the identity of the employer, leaving Mikulić to continue fighting the wrongful accusation.

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You could have brought your own ice cream chest.

This case, as reported by Večernji List, serves as a stark reminder of how crucial it is for the justice system to thoroughly verify facts and identities. For Mikulić, the fight has been not just about a fine, but about reclaiming his reputation and enduring 15 years of his life under a cloud of a false accusation. It's a testament to his perseverance that he continues to seek resolution.

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Dražen Mikulić hired me to sell ice cream, he did not report me to the pension and health insurance bodies until August 3, 2011, nor did he report me later. I left because he didn't want to pay me. I have nothing else to say.