The 50-year-old Croatian former international was detained Tuesday on suspicion of illegally obtaining permits for a coastal campground.
4:47 PM
Dario Simic, a 50-year-old former defender for Inter and AC Milan who also played for the Croatian national team, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of corruption in the tourism sector, according to the Croatian news agency Hina.
Simic was detained in Zagreb accused of illegally obtaining a license to operate a campground on the Adriatic coast. The case involves a small campground with ten plots and capacity for up to 30 people located in the town of Tisno, a coastal settlement several kilometers from Split.
According to sources cited by Hina, Simic allegedly obtained permits through corrupt means by bribing officials. The campground was constructed on land that was partly non-buildable and did not comply with regulations, according to local media reports. An ex-regional tourism official, identified as Neda Livljanic, allegedly authorized the campground construction between 2020 and 2021 despite these violations.
Two other individuals were arrested alongside Simic: a former regional tourism official accused of helping him obtain the necessary licenses, and a local entrepreneur. Neither police nor the specialized anti-corruption prosecutor's office has officially confirmed the arrest, though multiple media outlets published photographs showing the ex-player in handcuffs exiting a police vehicle.
Simic's attorney, Ivan Stanic, stated that the accusations are unfounded and that his client has always acted "honestly and with integrity." According to Stanic, "Simic does not feel guilty because he never committed any unlawful act."
Simic, who spent his playing career at several top European clubs including Inter and Milan, was a regular for Croatia's national team during his career.
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