Fra Šime Nimac

Franciscan priest Father Sime Nimac disappeared after withdrawing the money he had made from selling a piece of Church land near Split without authorisation from the local diocese.

"The property was sold without the explicit written consent of the competent ecclesiastical authority," the local Catholic Church said in a statement, adding that it had filed a lawsuit to nullify the sale.

"At the same time we express our heartfelt understanding for the public revulsion caused by the insatiable egotism of the individual in question," the statement continued. "We offer a sincere apology on behalf of all Friars of the Franciscan Order."

The 34-year-old priest reportedly had a reputation for living the good life, with a love of fast cars, good clothes and was often seen with a woman.

"He wasn't trying to hide it; he went out quite openly with his girlfriend," Lisana Ostrovickih, a resident of Father Nimac's former parish in the town of Baska Voda, told the Sata24 news channel. "He was often seen on the beach with her. It was an open secret."

It was also reported the priest owned several properties and a yacht called Lucky Me.
His 'girlfriend's' identity is a mystery, although local reports said she is a married employee of the bank where the money was withdrawn from.