Digital Nomad and Wife Throw Split Street into Chaos
Police intervened after 20 days of public disorder, and two completely conflicting stories about topless bathing, a balcony pool, and unpaid rent clashed in court.
Police intervened after 20 days of public disorder, and two completely conflicting stories about topless bathing, a balcony pool, and unpaid rent clashed in court.
What was a peaceful family vacation for some became a living nightmare for others. Digital nomad V. H. (58) and his wife, homemaker H. N. (44), who arrived in Split with their four children, ended up arrested at the police station after, according to testimonies from neighbors and the homeowner's daughter, they disrupted public peace and order for days in a quiet street beneath Marjan Hill.
The incident culminated on July 3, 2026, when V. H. was shouting from the exterior stairs of the house's upper floor in an incomprehensible language. Upon police arrival, it was established that the public disorder had been ongoing for a full 20 days. Consequently, the digital nomad was fined 300 euros plus 100 euros in court costs. His wife fared worse: for the noise and topless bathing on the balcony, she was penalized 700 euros.
According to the homeowner's daughter, the couple moved into the apartment on May 15, 2026, and the lease agreement for the two floors was signed on July 1, with a term lasting until July 1, 2027. However, problems began almost immediately. "They moved in on May 15, and we signed the contract on July 1. He was supposed to pay the rent for that month by June 5, but he didn't, nor for July. They didn't pay the utilities," the daughter told the court, as reported by Jutarnji list.
Additional tension arose from installing a pool on the balcony without the owner's knowledge or permission. "I told them they couldn't do that because the balcony isn't safe for that much weight. He didn't listen and changed the pool water every day," she stated. But what most disturbed the neighbors was the behavior of the 44-year-old tourist. "Even the neighbors called me to say the lady was walking around naked on the balcony, deliberately turning her backside and provoking," the daughter testified. Neighbors confirmed in court that they saw her "half-naked, only in tiny thongs," and that this, along with the noise, greatly bothered them.
The couple denies all accusations. V. H. presented a completely different version of events in court, claiming they were the victims. "They even cut off the water and electricity, forcing us to be without power, fridge, and cooling. I told her enough was enough and walked to the police," he said. He also described returning from swimming to find the gate locked with a metal padlock and the apartment's lock changed. "Then I saw our pool was broken and all our things were thrown out. My wife didn't bathe naked in the pool. In the end, we slept in the car in this heat, and she reported us to the police and made everything up," the 58-year-old asserted.
His wife, H. N., firmly denied topless bathing. "I didn't bathe topless or walk around like that on the balcony!" she retorted in court, then attempted to explain a cultural difference: "None of that is true. We lived in Spain for two years, and there it's normal for people to bathe topless." She also claimed the pool couldn't be seen from the street except from the roof of another building.
Neighbor testimony was crucial. One neighbor directly addressed the accused: "Yes, you bathed without a bra, and regularly! I can swear if needed! Our street is peaceful. If that family returns, we'll organize a protest."
The homeowner, through her daughter who handled communication, ultimately decided to terminate the contract and sent them a request to vacate within eight days. "In the end, I told them they didn't owe me anything, just to leave. I would have waited for payment until September, but I saw they had no intention of paying because they have no money," she concluded. Meanwhile, while the tenants were away, she took the opportunity to change the locks on the entrance.
Before arriving in Split, the couple had stayed in Fuerteventura, and previously lived in Spain for two years. V. H. also claimed the landlady had offered them another apartment for rent under the table, justifying it by saying she couldn't rent it to anyone else because of their noisy children. This claim was not confirmed by other sources.
