The Conflict of Interest Commission on Monday opened a case against Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomasevic over his decision to appoint Tomislav Lauc, who had donated to his mayoral campaign, as a member of the steering council of the Srebrnjak hospital for children.

The commission today did not make any formal decision on launching proceedings, however, it will collect all the relevant data and decide accordingly whether to initiate proceedings in this case, potentially perceived as a conflict of interest.

According to media reports, during the election campaign, Tomislav Lauc donated 10,000 kuna (€1,333) to the campaign of that mayoral candidate.

This is the second case opened by this commission against Tomasevic after it decided in June to investigate the circumstances of the possible appointment of city officials against procedure, which could amount to a breach of Article 15 of the Conflict of Interest Law.

Sandra Bencic of the Mozemo party, an associate of Tomasevic, insisted today that the appointments were made on the grounds of the competence of the candidates and that objectively, Lauc was not a member of the party.

She told the press that members of steering councils were not employees and that their monthly reimbursement was 750 kuna (€100). She believes that proceedings will not be launched against Tomasevic in this case.