Croatian Health Minister Arrested and Downloaded After Corruption Suspects

Croatia's Health Minister, Willi Beross, has been fired on Friday, after being arrested under suspicion of corruption, said the country's prime minister, Andrej Plenkovic.

Beros's lawyer, Laura Valkovic, told local media that her client denies the accusations.

The prime minister's comments came after Croatia's Office for Combating Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK) said it was conducting several arrests.

Also, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) said it has launched an investigation into eight people, including Berossin and the directors of two hospitals in Zagreb, under suspicion of bribery, abuse of office and money laundering.

Croatia's State Prosecutor Ivan Turudovic, whose office co-operates closely with USKOK, said two parallel investigations are under way over allegations of such criminal acts and that European prosecutors had not announced his office or U. SCIK for their investigation.

The EPO said that a criminal group, which sought to secure financing for the sale of robotic medical equipment in several hospitals, allegedly bribed officials to win contracts for projects, including those funded by the EU.

The EPO confirmed in a Reuters statement that it had not informed Croatian national authorities of the investigation it had started in July, adding that it had asked State Prosecutor's Office (DORH) to transfer its file to EPPO.

Turudiq said Beross is accused of illegal influence. He said two other persons have been arrested and a legal subject will be investigated for criminal offence.

The arrested persons will appear before an investigative judge who will decide on any measure of detention, Turudic said at a press conference.

“What is clear is that it is criminal acts of corruption”, Plenkovic said.

On behalf of the Government, I mean that authorized criminal prosecution agencies should investigate everything”, he added. / REL