Million-Euro Pig Scam: Croatian Meat Mogul Fined Millions After EU Fraud Confession
Miljenko Pivac — one of Croatia’s best-known meat industry tycoons — has admitted guilt in a multimillion-euro EU farm subsidy fraud, striking a plea deal with European prosecutors.
The “Pig Welfare” Scandal That Shook the Balkans
A major European fraud case has come to a stunning conclusion in Zagreb, Croatia — and it involves pigs, fake paperwork, and millions in EU subsidies.
Miljenko Pivac, a prominent businessman linked to one of Croatia’s biggest meat-processing groups, and five of his associates have officially pleaded guilty to defrauding the European Union of €4.7 million through bogus animal welfare projects.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) confirmed that the six defendants — along with Pivac’s company Vajda d.d. — reached a plea agreement after admitting to forging documents and filing fake applications for rural development funds intended to improve pig welfare.
From Pig Farms to Courtrooms
Between 2018 and 2023, Pivac’s team allegedly submitted multiple requests for EU agricultural funding totaling over €9 million.
Investigators found that the company faked paperwork for farms that didn’t meet eligibility criteria, fabricating entire documents to secure the cash.
When the EU’s agricultural payment agency noticed irregularities, the scheme unraveled. Vajda was ordered to return more than €3.2 million, and criminal charges quickly followed.
“We Knew We Didn’t Qualify”
According to EPPO, Vajda executives knowingly falsified documentation to appear compliant with EU rules, all while pocketing millions.
Despite the scale of the fraud, the court accepted plea deals in exchange for full restitution and cooperation.
The verdicts:
Miljenko Pivac, former supervisory board president — 11 months in prison (suspended and replaced with community service) and a €1.5 million fine.
Two senior managers, Igor Miljak and Vilim Simon — 11 months (also replaced with community service) and €150,000 fines each.
Three other employees received suspended sentences of 8 months.
Vajda d.d. was fined €1.5 million after repaying over €3.2 million in illicit gains.
The remaining three defendants will face trial separately, but prosecutors expect similar outcomes.
A Record-Breaking Fine — and a Message from Brussels
Legal experts say Pivac’s €1.5 million penalty marks one of the largest personal financial sanctions in Croatian history.
EPPO hailed the verdict as a “milestone” for EU financial justice, showing that even well-connected business figures aren’t immune to accountability.
The case also highlights a growing focus by EU prosecutors on misuse of agricultural and development funds — a problem that has long plagued member states in Central and Eastern Europe.
From Meat Empire to Moral Reckoning
The Pivac Group, a household name in Croatia’s food industry, has not commented on whether Pivac will retain his leadership role. For now, the once-celebrated entrepreneur finds himself at the center of a European cautionary tale — one that started with pigs and ended with prison sentences.
Bottom line: A multimillion-euro pig welfare scam just cost one of Croatia’s biggest meat moguls his reputation, millions in fines, and a trip to court — proving that even the most powerful can’t fake their way past Europe’s prosecutors.
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