Croatian Olympic official arrested in widening ski federation graft case

A Croatian Olympic Committee official was arrested on Thursday over alleged corruption, local media reported, in a widening graft scandal linked to the country's ski federation.

State-run HINA news agency reported that police arrested Damir Segota, director of the committee's Olympic programme, and his wife. Local media photographed Segota being escorted by investigators. HINA also reported that Segota's Olympic Committee office was searched, as was the office of committee secretary general Sinisa Krajac.

The anti-corruption prosecutors' office confirmed that searches and arrests had taken place, but did not identify the people involved. It said prosecutors would decide on further steps after questioning.

Local media reported that Segota is suspected of taking bribes to illegally release Olympic funds to the national ski federation.

The case comes as investigators seek the extradition of former alpine ski director Vedran Pavlek from Kazakhstan. He is accused of leading a scheme that allegedly siphoned off nearly 30 million euros, or $35 million, from the national ski federation.

Prosecutors launched an investigation in March into six people, including Pavlek, who has remained in Kazakhstan. The scandal led long-time Croatian Olympic Committee head Zlatko Matesa to resign, saying this would allow a transparent clarification of issues around the distribution and use of public funds handled by the committee.

Thursday's operation followed reports that a former ski federation secretary general, who is also a suspect in the case, had given prosecutors details about the alleged crimes.

Sports Minister Tonci Glavina said Thursday that any illegal conduct should be investigated. He told reporters it was in the public interest that everything be thoroughly examined and that anyone found responsible be sanctioned.

Pavlek's period in charge coincided with Croatia's most successful era in alpine skiing, when siblings Janica and Ivica Kostelic won 10 Olympic medals. Croatia joined the European Union in 2013 after tackling graft was made a key condition, but corruption remains a continuing problem in the country.