The Croatian anti-corruption authority, The Workplace for the Suppression of Corruption and Organized Crime (USKOK) on Thursday launched an investigation in opposition to former Well being Minister Vili Beroš, in addition to two different corporations, over allegations of corruption within the public well being system.
The USKOK launched an investigation in opposition to three Croatian residents on suspicion of collaborating in a legal affiliation involving Abuse of authority, affect peddling, bribery and inciting favoritism.. The investigation revealed that, from mid-2022 to the tip of 2023, the suspects – former well being minister berosa businessman Saša Pozder and a neurosurgeon Kresimir Rotim—collaborated to affect public procurement, making certain that state hospitals bought overpriced medical gadgets from one firm.
The European Public Prosecutor's Workplace (EPPO) has additionally launched an investigation in opposition to eight individuals, together with berostwo hospital administrators and two corporations. They’re suspected of bribery, abuse of authority and cash laundering between June 2022 and November 2024.
Between 2022 and 2024, a legal group allegedly bribed Croatian well being officers, together with berosto safe unique and costly gross sales of medical gadgets for 2 corporations they managed. By manipulating procurement processes to exclude opponents, they inflated gear costs, costing the nationwide finances €619,582.64. False invoices have been issued as a part of an effort to hide these actions.
The investigative choose of Zagreb County has ordered one month of preventive detention for the previous Beroš, who was additionally faraway from his place as Minister of Well being after his arrest.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković held a press convention and said that each the USKOK and the European Public Prosecutor's Workplace are conscious of the case and are finishing up parallel investigations. Plenković emphasised his coalition's unified stance in opposition to corruption and downplayed any impression on the coalition's stability. He additionally denied any prior information, sustaining that he couldn’t have anticipated these actions and covertly monitored individuals in a democratic establishment. Plenković additionally said that anybody who acts illegally should face penalties.