Croatian authorities have opened a money laundering investigation into Josip Heit, a convicted fraudster tied to GSPartners, DAO1, and the Apertum Foundation. The County State Attorney’s Office in Split confirmed that the case was transferred to the Municipal State Attorney’s Office for deeper examination. According to Croatian outlet Oštro, the probe aims to verify suspicions of criminal financial activity, though officials note that details remain confidential during the investigation.
Reports reveal that Heit, through GSB Gold Standard Banking Corporation, allegedly used cross-border transactions and real estate deals in Croatia, Romania, and Dubai to launder millions. Between 2014 and 2019, Heit and his brother-in-law Saša Svalina moved €19.5 million between jurisdictions via share sales of Croatian shell companies. Heit’s entities also acquired properties in Bucharest and Dubai, valued at over €21 million, some of which have since been sold. Investigative outlets link these assets to possible misuse of investor funds from DAO1 and the Apertum Foundation.
Heit has not issued any public response since German regulators flagged DAO1 and Apertum Foundation for fraud on October 2nd, 2025. Meanwhile, APTM, DAO1’s native token, has plummeted from $1.89 to $0.72, with daily trading volumes dropping by over 85%. The decline mirrors the G999 token crash associated with GSPartners in 2024, raising further concerns about ongoing investor losses and financial misconduct.
