Society

Croatian police grill former mayor over 1.5-tonne sausage scandal

Kulen is a popular
Kulen is a popular type of sausage traditionally produced in Croatia. Photo: Wiki Commons/Frka, sabor.hr
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The former mayor of a town in Croatia has been arrested on suspicion of buying 1.5 tonnes of sausages from a local butcher using public funds.

Davor Miličević, one-time mayor of the eastern town of Županja, was taken into custody on Thursday morning on suspicion of spending €80,000 a year for kulen sausage, a local delicacy.

Croatian news service Telegram reported that the purchases were made over a three-year period while Miličević was in office.

He served as the local municipal head from 2009 to 2021.

Telegram reported that Miličević was a close associate of local butcher Ilija Jelović, who has also been arrested, and even used his shop as a headquarters during elections.

Miličević has denied misusing taxpayers’ money and accused political rivals of setting him up.

He also says the kulen was bought to be given as gifts.

“[The local butcher] has the best kulen in the area and it's normal that we buy products from there that we give as gifts to guests who come to us and whom we visit,” Miličević was quoted by the jutarnji.hr news site as saying.

“It's symbolic—200 kuna [€0.13],” he added.
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