Investigation launched against police officer who leaked voter data, pre-trial detention sought

An investigation has been launched against a police officer accused of leaking sensitive voter data to help secure votes for a political campaign. The State Attorney's Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organized Crime (USKOK) is leading the inquiry into the 37-year-old female officer from the Pag Police Station.

The officer allegedly used her official position to access and photograph personal data of individuals registered as residents in Pag, as well as foreigners eligible to vote in local elections. This information was reportedly shared with Kristina Bistričić, the daughter of the former mayor of Pag, Ante Fabijanić, and Branimir Pari Vidolin, a local restaurateur and HDZ council candidate. USKOK claims the officer accessed the data at least 82 times, sharing it 66 times with Bistričić and 16 times with Vidolin, all to ensure votes for the list led by Fabijanić.

USKOK plans to request pre-trial detention for the police officer. The investigation stems from a report by the Zadar police and covers alleged abuses of position and authority, as well as incitement to such abuses, between January and May 2025. The officer was reportedly a member of the election staff for the then-HDZ mayor Fabijanić.

This is not the first investigation involving former Pag mayor Ante Fabijanić. In June of the previous year, USKOK initiated an investigation against Fabijanić, his driver, and directors of local companies for allegedly siphoning funds to cover the driver's tax debt through fictitious business deals.