The work
In Croatia, Telegram investigated the mayor of the small town of Otok, who also served as a member of parliament, exposing years of abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds. Journalists revealed that he had spent €100,000 of taxpayer money on luxury items, including fine dining, premium wines, silk ties and perfumes. The report showed a consistent pattern of using public resources to finance a lavish personal lifestyle between 2015 and 2023.
Impact
The findings were confirmed by Croatia’s anti-corruption agency, which opened a criminal investigation. Following the revelations, the mayor was arrested and forced to resign his parliamentary seat.
Telegram’s reporting has directly strengthened accountability in Croatia. By exposing the misuse of public funds and prompting swift institutional response, the investigation ensured that corruption did not go unchecked. The resignation of a sitting member of parliament sent a clear signal that even high-ranking officials are not beyond scrutiny.