PIs Investigate Croatian Businessmen

Before investing into Croatia, foreign entrepreneurs hire a private investigator to get insight into who they are dealing with.

Of the twelve private investigation agencies in Croatia, eight deal exclusively with detective work. But, due to incomplete regulations and various interpretations of the law and rule books, detectives are often on the brink of the law. 

Photographing forbidden 

-- One of the more obvious regulations that hinders us from doing our job is prohibited photographing in public areas – said Njegoslav Blazek, owned of the “Sova” P.I. agency and president of the Association of Private Investigators.

When a detective wants to shoot pictures in a public place, he must inform the targeted person previously, which is senseless because photographs is one of the most important evidence in the investigation, Vjesnik writes.

There is no law defining Blazek’s job as independent and the Law on the Protection of Persons and Property is incomplete, which is why he cannot perform his task fully.

A law on private investigators is being drawn up for three years now and for now only the blueprint of the law has been formed, although the introduction of the law would simplify the opening of such agencies and access to information.

Investigating Croatian businessmen 

-- My clients are increasingly companies that, before investing in Croatia, want to know who they will be cooperating with, so we often get orders to gather information about managers and their licenses – were they ever prosecuted, do they have family problems, are they prone to alcohol or gambling – said Blazek, adding that also much requested are investigations into computer crimes and the protection and safety of information.