The Theft of INA: The Largest Blockade in the History of the Office for the Prevention of Money Laundering, Notification Received from Banks

As announced over the weekend, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Davor Filipović held a meeting at the Ministry of Finance regarding the details of the large theft at INA. Before the meeting, he briefly noted that the disputed contract was signed two months before he joined the Supervisory Board of INA and that he would request a review of the gas business from 2020 when this occurred. The meeting lasted 45 minutes, and after the meeting, no one from INA’s Management Board made any statements, Index reports.

It is worth noting that in a large operation and investigation by USKOK and the police, it was revealed that five arrested individuals – the Director of the Natural Gas Trading Service at INA Damir Škugor, the President of the Croatian Bar Association (HOK) Josip Šurjak, his business partner Goran Husić, with whom he co-owns the company OMS Management, Škugor’s father, and the CEO of the company Plinara Istočne Slavonije Marija Ratkić – in money laundering and abuse in the natural gas trade, caused INA damages exceeding one billion kuna.

The head of the Office for the Prevention of Money Laundering Ante Biluš addressed journalists at the Ministry of Finance.

– After receiving notifications about suspicious transactions, we begin an investigation. I will not be able to disclose details about the case. In this case, full efficiency was achieved by all participants involved. I would also emphasize the effective role of the banks. The banks sent us a notification about the suspicious transaction. Our goal is to prevent the use of property benefits obtained through criminal acts. A total of 813 million kuna has been blocked in eight commercial banks across 16 accounts, in six open investment funds. Properties worth three million euros have been blocked – said Biluš.

Hina reports that the blockade of 813 million kuna in the INA gas resale affair is the largest in the history of the Office for the Prevention of Money Laundering, and the first information about possible malversations was received from banking circles.

The Director of the Tax Administration Božidar Kutleša added that all analyses would not have been possible without our information system.

– We have quite high percentages for detecting irregularities. Through tax reform, we are more active in investigations related to money laundering. We cannot provide more information about the specific case – said Kutleša.

He added that everything lasted about three months, from the beginning to the arrests.

Minister of Finance Marko Primorac answered journalists’ questions tersely.

– I would not delve into the specific case; I do not know how it functions within INA. From what I know, it involves one person negotiating lower prices. If those are internal processes within INA that allowed this, it is unusual. And how this reaches the Management Board and the Supervisory Board, I do not know. Those questions should be addressed to the right addresses. I am also interested in those details – commented the minister.