Another day in the life of Zdravko Mamić.
Zdravko Mamić, who was sentenced to six and a half years in prison in June, spoke to the BiH N1 regional television program to say that he felt like a victim of political persecution, arguing that the former Yugoslav secret service and Hajduk fans were behind it, reports Index.hr on October 24, 2018.
The Osijek County Court sentenced Mamić to six years and a half years in prison for damaging football club Dinamo Zagreb of some 116 million kuna. Immediately after the verdict was pronounced, Mamić fled to Bosnia and Herzegovina and lives in Medjugorje today.
Although an arrest warrant was issued, Mamić’s extradition to Croatia was refused because Mamić was born in BiH and thus holds the citizenship of the country, which is currently protecting him from prison.
Mamić claims the verdict happened to be announced on his way to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Explaining such a development, Mamić said that before the verdict was announced, he could travel anywhere and that his verdict was accidentally found "on his official path".
"I am now in my second homeland. I'm not a fugitive, I found myself in BiH," Mamić said of his current status.
Mamić also said that he was a victim of political games, with a vague explanation that this is all because of the budget deficit in Croatia.
Mamić didn't damage the Croatian budget by a penny, he claims.
He stated that despite the court verdict, he did not damage the Croatian budget “not even for a single penny“ nor Dinamo, who, as he claims, he brought EUR 500 million to.
Mamić even claims he was prosecuted by those who wanted his position as a promoter of young players like Luke Modrić at the time.
Mamić and Modrić had a 'civil contract'.
Mamić tried to explain his business relationship with the best footballer in the world by saying that the two of them had signed a civil contract on the basis of which Modrić gave him some of the money he received through transfers.
He said that with players like Modrić, he was a “co-creator” and that “no one is guilty”, so he does not see how it is logical that he was convicted.
"On the territory of the former Yugoslavia, it was quite normal for players and clubs to share the transfer. I was an investor in young talents. I invested in young players. I had a private civil contract with (Luka) Modrić. When he left Dinamo (to Tottenham) he paid the tax. Then he divided his money between him and me. The 52 million kuna is in the hands of Mamić and Modrić. I made the money from Dinamo over these players.”
Mamić claims the State Attorney's Office was operating as the secret police organization of Yugoslavia, or better yet, the counterintelligence service of the Yugoslav People's Army.
He said DORH was acting under the guise of UDBA and KOS, or "former military prosecutors", which, according to his trial, means persecution on the dictates of politics.
He is convinced, however, that the Supreme Court of Croatia will be “considerably more serious" and make the right decision in the second stages of the proceedings.
He described himself as an HDZ sympathizer and that "politics and Hajduk supporters, who make up half of Croatia“ got in his head, and they are all against him.
