Safe now: Karolina Juresko with mother Marija at their Corio home
JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A PAIR of Corio neighbours’ international rescue mission has returned an elderly and ill grandmother to Geelong, according to her family.
Karolina Juresko alleged that an aged care facility held her dementia-stricken mother against her will while defrauding her estate.
Ms Juresko said a combination of fraud and government corruption conspired to create a “hellish” situation for Marija in Croatia.
“It began when my father died in 1997 and we tried to have his €8 million estate passed on to my mother.
“There was delay after delay, so eventually we went to Croatia to try and sort it out. While we were there, a relative illegally claimed power of attorney and had my mother committed to an aged care facility, using her bank accounts to pay for it.
“He also began using property included in my father’s estate. But as his daughter I was denied access by government departments unless I paid fees that kept getting higher and higher.
“All they wanted was money but nothing was ever done.”
Ms Juresko said she had to return to Australia after falling ill.
She received “threatening demands” for money to maintain her mother in the aged care facility.
Ms Jurekso said a neighbour, Brian Allen, went to Croatia on her behalf to “rescue” her mother from the facility.
Mr Allen said the facility kept Mrs Juresko in what amounted to a shed with six other aged people instead of the supposed two-bed ward for which her daughter was paying.
“They had taken her passport so they were virtually holding her to ransom,” Mr Allen said.
Ms Juresko said appeals to Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs, the International Red Cross and the Croatian Embassy had fallen on deaf ears.
“No one will do anything. Now I’ve gone to the police and Interpol is investigating the facility but it doesn’t help settle the affairs.
“My father’s estate still hasn’t been transferred.”
Ms Juresko said her father’s estate was so valuable because it included high-priced land holdings.
The fight was continuing because Centrelink had cut off her mother’s pension, Ms Juresko said.
“She is here in the country living with me and has been an Australian citizen since 1974 but they’ve cut off her pension. We’re fighting bureaucracy in two countries and it really takes a toll.”
Geelong Police Senior Detective Danny Adamko said he had taken a statement from Ms Juresko and sent it to Interpol for investigation.
Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed officials had “provided assistance” to Mrs Juresko and her family so she could return to Australia.
