The Bureau for Combating Corruption and Organized Crime (USKOK) announced on Nov. 26 that it would probe Georg “Djuro” Gavrilovic, 74, on suspicion of war profiteering, abuse of office and abetting the abuse of office in 1991 and 1992. Gavrilovic, an Austrian citizen, is the owner of a well-known meat company also named Gavrilovic.
The man nicknamed the “Salami King” is suspected of embezzling at least US$ 1.27 million in government funds to pay his debts from the acquisition of several bankrupt companies. Gavrilovic is said to have gained access to the money, which was supposed to be spent on weapons for the Croatian military in their war against the Yugoslav National Army, through his friendship with Jozo Martinovic, who was Croatia’s Finance Minister at the time.
Gavrilovic has said that the investigation is an attempt to make him give up an arbitration case he brought against the Croatian government in September, Balkan Insight reports. Gavrilovic is requesting US$ 374 million and the return of 450 apartments and offices as compensation for property the Communist government took from his family following World War II.
