Ivan Matak, father of accused Australian conman Luka Matak, puts up home as surety for son’s bail with wife Adriana Matak

Accused conman Luka Matak’s father has offered his home as surety to ensure his son and his wife answer bail after they were arrested in Croatia on fraud charges.

Adriana Kupresak and Luka Matak who are in a Croatian jail.. Picture: Supplied

Accused conman Luka Matak’s father has offered his $332,731 home as surety to ensure his son and his wife answer bail once they are released from custody.

Sydney salesman Ivan Matak has offered bail solicitors his home in Zadar on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast, as both security and surety to meet the $82,000 bail required to release his son and wife Adriana from custody on December 1.

The Mataks, both from Sydney and aged in their 30s, are being held in Remetinec prison in the Croatian capital of Zagreb awaiting trial, accused of defrauding people there of 350,000 euros ($A587,000).

They have not been charged and strongly deny the allegations.

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.

Adriana and Luka Matak with Luka's Dad, Ivan (left). Picture: Supplied

This week two additional British investors came forward to file fraud charges with the Municipal Criminal State Attorneys’ Office for consideration, bringing the total fraud complaints to 13.

The two Britons – and the Matak’s Croatian godfather to their son who has not filed fraud charges but claims to have also lost money – claim to have been defrauded of a combined $535,850.

The investors, aged between 20 and 40, are in addition to the ten who last week came forward seeking a collective $A1.6 million in newly-lodged legal complaints, said Mr Bohacek.

Ivan Matak. His son Luka and daughter in law, Adriana are currently being held in a Croatian jail on fraud charges. Picture: Supplied

It has emerged this week that Luka and Adriana, a travel blogger who also goes by the name Kupresak, have been 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.

Marko Bohacek, a partner in law firm BDV Legal in the Croatian capital Zagreb, said: “Luka Matak’s father has mortgaged his house as both security and surety to guarantee his son does not skip the country and faces trial if it goes ahead.

“The County Court in Zagreb ordered that both of them remain another month in the investigatory jail.

Adriana Matak who is being held in a Croatian jail. Picture: Supplied

“So, this means that for the second time the court assessed there are reasons to keep them in custody – and they will be at least three months in Remetinec.

“They offered bail in the form that Luka’s father has mortgaged his house in Zadar to guarantee that they will not escape Croatia once they are out of investigatory jail – this is not yet approved and is being considered by the Attorney’s office.

“I am also talking to the godfather to the Mataks’ son, Luka Junior, who says he has also been defrauded but he does not want to file fraud charges.

“People have lost oceans of money to the Mataks …”

Australian man Luka Matak, who has been arrested in Croatia. Picture: Supplied.

People who invested millions of dollars with Luka Matak suspect that their money funded the couple’s lavish lifestyle staying in luxury hotels in Dubai, Croatia and London and afforded them designer clothes including expensive Savile Row suits.

“While you are swanning around spending other people’s money, remember your actions and total lack of decency as a man are affecting the lives of others,” one investor told Matak in a December 13, 2021, WhatsApp message.

The Mataks are being represented by high-profile Croatian lawyer famed for representing a millionaire footballer and corrupt prime minister Jadranka Slokovic and her partner Čedo Prodanović.

Remetinec Prison in Zagreb, Croatia, where the Australian couple are being held. Picture: Supplied

Luka’s father Ivan, who works as a sales associate for Alcolizer Technology in Glenhaven, NSW, initially washed his hands of his son but has now agreed to help.

Mr Matak senior and his wife have not been seen at their town house home in north-west Sydney for some weeks, prompting speculation they may have travelled overseas to support their son.

There was also no sign of life at Ms Matak’s parents’ family home west of Sydney.

Before her relocation to Croatia, Ms Matak allegedly worked as a hostess in a high-end gentlemen’s club in London.

She has also opened up on previous struggles with alcohol and addiction in a piece for Life as a Human magazine in 2020.

“I am open about my new journey and past struggles because I know what it’s like to contemplate taking your own life and I know what it’s like to look for any reason not to,” she wrote

“It’s ironic because as a travel blogger I always looked for the road less travelled and as an addict, sought the road most had already travelled.

“I am living proof that you can turn your life around and live the life of your dreams, you just need to give yourself a real honest chance.”

Originally published as Ivan Matak, father of accused Australian conman Luka Matak, puts up home as surety for son’s bail with wife Adriana Matak