Mašenjka Bačić, Ana Čelar

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Ivica Baksa, an MP from the Independent Platform of the North, failed to report a company in Slovakia, as well as shares in two Croatian companies, and a house to the Commission for the Prevention of Conflict of Interest.

Entrepreneur, employer, politician, owner of a company from Pribislavec, and philanthropist – these are just a few ways local media have described Ivica Baksa, member of the Independent Platform of the North from Međimurje, who took his seat in the Croatian Parliament in May, replacing the county’s prefect Matija Posavec.

The young and ambitious entrepreneur, who likes to brag to the media about helping those in need often praised in the media for helping those in need, was required to submit his asset declaration upon taking public office. However, Oštro discovered that Baksa was not entirely transparent about the assets he owns.

A house in Međimurje, a company in Slovakia, and two Croatian companies are properties that Baksa »forgot« to declare when submitting his asset declaration.

Declared Farmland, But Not the House On It

Ivica Baksa declared co-ownership of 2,300 m² of farmland in Šenkovec, near Čakovec. However, Oštro's investigation revealed that the land contains an illegally built house. According to Međimurje County , it lacks the necessary building permits. Using the online tool Map Developers, the house's surface area was estimated at roughly 38 m².

In response to Oštro, Baksa stated that he purchased the land »with a structure measuring 12 m², which is mobile.«

However, Oštro's reporter visited the site in Šenkovec and confirmed that the structure in question is in fact an older building, larger than 12 m², without the typical characteristics of a mobile home.

Baksa bought the farmland, which includes the house, in 2019 for HRK 7,500 (approximately €1,000) together with Siniša Šalamon, director of the Međimurje Regional Investment Centre, a company founded by the local county government. Since this is a publicly owned company, Šalamon is also required to submit an asset declaration. Like Baksa, he only declared the farmland, not the house on it.

Šalamon did not respond to Oštro’s inquiry.

Undeclared Company in Slovakia

But this is not the only joint venture between Baksa and Šalamon. In 2019, the two of them, along with the Slovak company Falen, established a company in Slovakia called Bawo. The company has not been operational since. In 2019, the company changed its name to Harrison Dauman Group, and Falen and Šalamon left the ownership structure, leaving Baksa as the sole owner.

Baksa, who submitted his asset declaration on June 14 this year, told Oštro that he did not declare the company because it had been sold and was in the process of being transferred to its new owner. However, Baksa is still listed as the owner of Harrison Dauman Group in the Slovak Business Register. When asked by Oštro to provide proof of the sale, Baksa did not respond.

Although local media had previously reported on Baksa’s two Croatian companies, Interkast and Inter Grupa IBK, he did not include them in his asset declaration. Interkast specializes in selling materials for home furnishing and generated €5 million in revenue last year, finishing with a profit of €129,800. Inter Grupa IBK, founded in 2013, focuses on information and communication, but has not generated significant revenue in years.

Seven days after becoming an MP, Baksa transferred ownership of Interkast to his wife, and on the day he submitted his asset declaration, he also transferred his stake in Inter Grupa IBK. In his asset declaration, he was required to report his wife’s ownership of these company shares, but he failed to do so. He did not explain why.

Baksa stated that he transferred the ownership of the companies to his wife because, as an »MP in the Croatian Parliament, he is obliged to do so according to the Conflict of Interest Prevention Act.« However, according to said Act, Baksa, like other MPs, is required to transfer management rights, not ownership of companies.