Croatian Directors Arrested for Defrauding Clients of Over 800,000 Euros in Failed Property Scheme

Two directors from the Osijek area face serious charges after allegedly defrauding 19 customers of more than 800,000 euros. The suspects, aged 49 and 51, are accused of taking advance payments for real estate construction projects that were never realized. The 49-year-old director from Višnjevac allegedly received the funds between 2022 and 2024 for obtaining building and occupancy permits and registering properties, but failed to deliver on his promises.

In addition to the customer fraud, the directors are also suspected of tax evasion and falsifying business documents. The 49-year-old, with the help of the 51-year-old director from Osijek, allegedly created fake invoices in 2023 and 2024 to reduce his company's value-added tax obligations. This allegedly cost the Ministry of Finance and the state budget over 90,000 euros. The second director is accused of using similar methods to reduce his own company's tax liability by more than 8,000 euros. Police have filed criminal charges against both individuals, forwarding the case to the competent Municipal State Attorney's Office in Osijek.