Former Chief State Inspector Defends Himself from Freedom in Quarry Case, but Šincek's Bribery Allegations for Tolerating Illegal Waste Have Not Yet Gained Formal Suspect Status
Former Chief State Inspector Andrija Mikulić is not a suspect in the illegal waste disposal case in Gospić, despite serious allegations by Josip Šincek, the primary suspect in that case, that Mikulić demanded €500,000 in bribes. Šincek made these claims in his additional defense before USKOK, but they have not yet escalated into formal suspect status for Mikulić in that case.
Mikulić is not currently a suspect in the Gospić affair, raising the question of whether investigators have verified Šincek's claims and, if so, what they have found. USKOK has not provided a clear answer on whether the investigation will be extended to include the former chief inspector in connection with these allegations.
Mikulić's arrest in November 2025 was not linked to the Gospić waste affair but to a separate USKOK investigation into suspected bribery in a quarry case. He was dismissed by the government on November 27, 2025, and on the same day, USKOK issued an arrest warrant for him. A few days later, an investigation was launched against him and his godfather Dragan Krasić.
Initially, at least €120,000 in bribes was mentioned, and USKOK later, through details made public, covered a total of at least €190,000, as well as meat, timber, and construction materials. Investigators suspect that the money and other benefits were intended to create a more favorable environment for the quarry owner's business interests, which would include a more lenient approach by inspection services and the prevention of negative reports.
Josip Šincek, the primary suspect in the case of illegal disposal of around 37,000 tons of waste, claimed that Mikulić demanded about half a million euros from him so that the State Inspectorate would "turn a blind eye," i.e., allow the continuation of illegal waste disposal. Šincek also described contacts with Mikulić in Gospić. His lawyer publicly confirmed that his client had made such claims.
It is important to note that these are allegations made by a suspect in his defense, not judicially established facts. Mikulić has rejected the accusations. Therefore, it remains unclear how USKOK has responded to this information and whether there is a possibility of expanding the investigation and indictment against Mikulić.
In recent days, Šincek has again publicly spoken about Mikulić. He also claimed that the former chief state inspector threatened him with prison and revenge by "big fish" if he talked. These claims are also currently only Šincek's allegations.
Meanwhile, the investigation into the illegal waste case has been extended to other individuals, including county official Jerko Kostelac, suspected of irregularities related to the issuance of permits. However, Mikulić has not been among the suspects in that case.
This in itself does not indicate whether Šincek's claims have been confirmed or dismissed. However, the claim that the former chief state inspector may have demanded half a million euros in exchange for tolerating illegal waste management is a serious accusation that requires a clear response from the authorities.
Mikulić was released from investigative detention on January 22, 2026, after spending nearly two months there due to the risk of influencing witnesses. Since the end of January, he has been in the status of a defendant at liberty, while the investigation into suspected bribery related to the quarry continues.
The fact that Mikulić is currently free does not indicate his innocence nor the conclusion of the investigation against him. He was in investigative detention due to the risk of influencing witnesses, and after they were examined, that reason ceased to exist. The current situation is unusual: while the former chief state inspector is under investigation for suspected bribery in the quarry case, another accusation, which is financially even more serious and relates to the alleged demand for €500,000 to tolerate illegal waste disposal, has not yet led to his formal suspect status in the Gospić case.
