Accused Aussie conwoman’s surprise claim in Croatian release bid

Adriana Matak, who along with her husband is accused of defrauding wealthy investors, reveals new information as she applies for release from a Croatian jail.

Accused conwoman Adriana Matak has informed court authorities she is pregnant for the second time as part of an application for release from a Croatian detention centre.

The Sydney travel blogger and her husband Luka Matak are accused of defrauding people there of 350,000 euros ($A587,000) and are held in Remetinec jail, Croatia’s largest prison, renowned for its overcrowding and described as worse than jails in Russia.

If her bid, currently being assessed by the court, is successful, she could be released on bail from detention this week.

Adriana Matak, with her husband Luka, lived a glamorous lifestyle. Picture: Supplied

Her high profile criminal lawyer Jadranka Slokovic refused to comment on the pregnancy claim. The Mataks vehemently deny any wrongdoing.

The move comes as financial investigators have failed to locate the couple’s funds with lawyers representing investors saying they have sourced only 250 euros ($419) in their Croatian accounts.

Adriana Matak poses with a Birkin bag.

The couple led a flashy lifestyle.

“Last year 400,000 euros passed through Luka Matak’s Croatian account and now there is less than 250 – so that means they have either spent it or transferred it to a safe place,” lawyer for investors Marko Bohacek said.

A source close to the Mataks added: “The courts have been informed Adriana, who goes by the name Kupresak, is pregnant again. They already have a son Luka Junior, and the authorities are assessing the validity of the claim which, if correct, will see her released from jail suffering the trial, if it gets the go ahead.”

The Australian couple, both in their 30s, are accused of swindling investors in Croatia and from Australia, Canada, the UK and US and have been held in prison in the capital Zagreb for nearly two months.

The pair haven’t been charged since their arrest in September and are being held while an investigation is carried out.

Adriana Matak, during her travel blogging days, claims she is pregnant with her second child. Picture: YouTube

News Corp revealed 13 fraud charges totalling more than $A1.6m had been lodged with the Municipal Criminal State Attorneys’ Office for consideration.

Former barman Luka Matak, who branded himself a hedge fund director, is accused of conning friends and family into handing over their life savings in return for a 20 per cent return as part of a fraudulent investment scheme.

Lawyer Marko Bohacek has filed fraud charges with the Municipal Criminal State Attorneys’ Office, for consideration with claims totalling more than $A1.6 million, he said.

Last week Luka and Adriana were ordered by the County Court in Zagreb to remain in custody for another month, bringing their total time in detention to three months until December 1.

People who invested millions of dollars with Luka Matak suspect their money funded the couple’s lavish lifestyle including luxury hotel stays in Dubai, Croatia and London and expensive Savile Row suits.

One victim, an estate agent living in London, aged 62, said he met Mr Matak at Tomtom Cigars and Coffee bar in London’s Mayfair last March.

Within 18 months of meeting him he had invested more than $400,000 in his scheme which promised returns of more than 20 per cent.

“I was at the cigar bar and he was outside in the seating area and we got chatting, he seemed friendly and amiable and told me he was a hedge fund director and doing it for fun,” he said.

“He played the long game … and his modus operandi was to recruit people who looked like they had money at the cigar bar.

“I genuinely fell for it, to the extent I introduced him to two clients and offered to go into business with him to make his scheme legitimate – what he did was put me in the darkest place in my life,” he said.

Originally published as Accused Aussie conwoman’s surprise claim in Croatian release bid