HOO Official Damir Šegota Arrested for Corruption

Damir Šegota, director of the Olympic Program Office of the Croatian Olympic Committee (HOO), was arrested and brought for questioning at the Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organized Crime (USKOK). The arrests followed media reports about the continuation of an investigation into an affair connected to the Croatian Ski Federation, which is examining suspicions of illegal payments amounting to about 30 million euros.

According to unofficial information, Šegota's wife was also arrested. Other urgent evidentiary actions are being carried out, including searches of premises connected to individuals involved in the investigation. USKOK had previously confirmed that arrests and searches were conducted in the Zagreb area concerning multiple individuals under their order, without revealing identities or case details.

After the suspects arrive for questioning, USKOK will decide on further steps, including whether to launch an investigation and request pre-trial detention. Investigators also reportedly searched premises used by the HOO's Secretary-General, Siniša Krajač, as part of the same operation. Krajač was not arrested, and the HOO stated they are cooperating with the relevant institutions.

The arrests occurred a day after media reports detailed the continuation of the investigation. These reports suggested that the former Secretary-General of the Croatian Ski Federation, Damir Raos, described cash payments to investigators that he allegedly made on the orders of the former director of alpine teams, Vedran Pavlek. A list found on Nenad Eror at the Bregana border crossing, where over 116,000 euros in undeclared cash was discovered, reportedly included names associated with the Croatian Olympic Committee.

USKOK has not yet released official details of the investigation or the identities of all individuals involved in the proceedings.