In a significant legal development related to the ongoing Hipodrom affair, the Zagreb County Court's prosecution panel has rejected a request for the disclosure of evidence against the sole remaining defendant, Goran Đulić, a former member of the management board of the Sports Facilities Management Institution (USO). This decision marks a pivotal moment in the case, as Đulić stands alone among five individuals charged in connection with the scandal, having neither admitted guilt nor reached a plea deal with the prosecution.
Đulić, unlike the four other co-defendants who have accepted plea agreements, continues to deny the charges brought against him. His legal team has argued that certain pieces of evidence presented by the prosecution are unlawful and should therefore be excluded from the trial. However, after reviewing the request, the prosecution panel ruled against granting the motion, although it did allow Đulić’s defense team the right to appeal the decision before the Supreme Court of Croatia.
The ruling comes amid broader proceedings involving several high-profile figures linked to the Hipodrom affair. The case was initiated in December 2025 when the prosecution filed formal charges against multiple individuals connected to the USO, alleging corruption and financial misconduct. Central to these allegations is the claim that former USO director Kosta Kostanjević illegally paid 1.8 million euros to the law firm Eurolex, thereby earning an illicit profit of 450,000 euros.
Kostanjević, who has since pleaded guilty and entered into a plea agreement with the prosecution, was sentenced on May 25 to two years and five months in prison. In addition to this prison term, he must also return 450,000 euros and pay a fine of 40,000 euros. He is one of several individuals implicated in the case, including former Eurolex owner Domagoj Galić and his father, Slavko Galić, both of whom have also accepted plea deals. Domagoj Galić received a two-year prison sentence, while his father was given a sentence of one year and four months. Both were ordered to pay fines of 40,000 euros each. Eurolex itself was fined 25,000 euros and required to repay 1.3 million euros in illegal profits.
Another notable figure in the case is Jagoda Bončina Franjković, the heir of Kostanjević, who also pleaded guilty and was given a conditional sentence. With her acceptance of the charges, she left Đulić as the last person standing among the accused. According to the prosecution, Đulić and Bončina Franjković took action between June 16 and July 2, 2025, by demoting two employees of the USO who had provided testimony against Kostanjević. These employees were reassigned to lower-paying positions, allegedly to influence their testimonies and benefit Kostanjević.
The legal proceedings surrounding the Hipodrom affair have drawn attention due to the involvement of prominent public officials and the alleged misuse of public funds. The case has been closely followed by media outlets and legal experts alike, highlighting the complexity of the charges and the potential implications for Croatian public administration. As the trial progresses, the focus remains on Đulić, whose continued denial of the charges and the subsequent rejection of his request for evidence exclusion could shape the direction of the case moving forward. The possibility of an appeal by Đulić’s legal team adds another layer of uncertainty to the proceedings, which may ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court of Croatia.
3 reports
Jutarnji listIndependentCenterFactual 97Objective 927 days agoThe Zagreb County Court's prosecution committee has rejected a request to separate evidence against Goran Đulić, the sole remaining defendant in the Hipodrom affair, who denies the charges. Đulić, a former member of the management board of the Sports Facilities Management Institution (USO), was accused of involvement in the scandal but refused to plead guilty or reach a plea deal with the prosecution. His defense argued that certain evidence was unlawful and requested its exclusion, but the court denied this request, though it allowed an appeal to the Supreme Court. The case involves allegations that former USO director Kosta Kostanjević illegally paid €1.8 million to the law firm Eurolex and personally gained €450,000. Several other individuals and the firm have already pleaded guilty and received prison sentences and fines. Now, Đulić remains the only person still facing charges, as he continues to deny any wrongdoing.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the legal proceedings and outcomes of the Hipodrom affair without overtly favoring any side. It reports on the court’s decision to reject the defense’s motion while allowing an appeal, and provides factual details about the charges, pleas, and sentences of multiple defendants. S
Why these scores (Factual 97 · Objective 92): This article aligns closely with the others, providing identical core information about the court decision, Đulić’s stance, and the outcomes for other defendants. It maintains a neutral tone throughout, avoiding any overt bias or emotional language.
N1 HrvatskaIndependentCenterFactual 96Objective 917 days agoThe Zagreb County Court's prosecution committee has rejected a request for evidence disclosure against Goran Đulić, the sole remaining defendant in the Hipodrom scandal. Đulić, a former member of the management board of the Sports Facilities Management Agency (USO), has not admitted guilt and continues to challenge the charges. His defense attorneys argued that certain evidence was unlawfully obtained, but the prosecution committee denied their request while allowing them to appeal to the High Criminal Court. Meanwhile, several other defendants, including former USO director Kosta Kostanjević, former owner of Eurolex Domagoj Galić, and his father Slavko, have already pleaded guilty and received prison sentences along with financial penalties. Kostanjević was sentenced to two years and five months in prison for illegally paying €1.8 million to a protection agency and pocketing €450,000. The case involves allegations of corruption and witness tampering.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the legal proceedings and outcomes of the Hipodrom scandal without overtly favoring any political side. It reports on court decisions, sentencing, and the status of various defendants, maintaining a balanced tone by presenting both the prosecution’s actions and the defense’s诉求.
Why these scores (Factual 96 · Objective 91): The article accurately reports the court's decision regarding Đulić and provides consistent details with the other sources. It includes the same key facts about the case and sentencing. The tone is mostly neutral but slightly less balanced than some others due to minor emphasis on certain phrases.
Novi listIndependentCenterFactual 95Objective 907 days agoThe Zagreb County Court's prosecution panel has rejected a request to separate evidence against Goran Đulić, the sole remaining defendant in the Hipodrom affair, who denies the charges. Đulić, unlike the other four accused, did not plead guilty or reach a plea deal with the prosecution. His lawyers argued that the evidence was unlawful and requested its separation, but the court denied this request, though they allowed an appeal to the Supreme Court. The defense claims that witness interrogations were conducted without their presence. In this case, former USO director Kosta Kostanjević was sentenced to two years and five months in prison and ordered to pay €40,000 in fines and return €450,000 obtained illegally in the Hipodrom affair. Former Eurolex owner Domagoj Galić and his father Slavko also pleaded guilty and reached plea deals with the prosecution. Additionally, Jagoda Bončina Franjković, Kostanjević’s successor, admitted guilt and received a conditional sentence. Đulić remains the only person denying the charges.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the legal proceedings and outcomes of the Hipodrom affair without overtly favoring any side. It reports on the court's decision, the defendants' responses, and the legal consequences without using biased language or selectively omitting information. The framing appears balanced,
Why these scores (Factual 95 · Objective 90): The article presents facts consistently with the others, including details about Đulić's refusal to plead guilty, the court's rejection of the defense request, and the sentences given to other defendants. Minor differences in phrasing do not affect accuracy. The tone remains largely neutral.
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