Croatia\’s PM Fires Health Minister After Corruption Arrest

EU Prosecutors Probe Alleged Bribery and Corruption in Croatia

In a move aimed at curbing corruption, EU attorneys are conducting a comprehensive inquiry in Croatia that involves eight persons and two corporate entities. The investigation centers on accusations of bribery, abuse of power and money‑laundering practices.

Key Individuals Under Scrutiny

• Former public officials accused of receiving illicit payments.
• Business leaders alleged to have used their positions to influence procurement decisions.
• Other private individuals suspected of funneling funds through shell companies.

Corporate Entities Investigated

• Two companies that are reported to have engaged in questionable financial transactions.
• Entities linked to the alleged relocation of millions in cash and shell accounts.

Allegations in Brief

Bribery: Payment of undisclosed sums to secure favors or contracts.
Abuse of Authority: Misuse of public office to benefit private interests.
Money Laundering: Concealing the origins of illicit funds through complex financial networks.

Impact and Outlook

The ongoing probe is expected to strengthen legal accountability in the region, ensuring that all implicated parties are thoroughly examined and held responsible under EU legal frameworks.

Health Minister Ousted Amid EU Corruption Probe

Polite Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has dismissed Health Minister Vili Beroš following his arrest under an ongoing European Union investigation for alleged corruption.

Scope of the Investigation

• Eight individuals—including Beroš and two top hospital directors in Zagreb—are under suspicion.
• Two companies are also implicated.
• Charges span bribery, abuse of official position, and money laundering, as stated by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO).

Prime Minister’s Statement

During a press briefing, Plenković emphasized that his government will not shield any official from prosecution if criminal activity is suspected:

“I am appalled by the idea that anyone in the health system would use their position for personal gains or to favour others. The health system is a particularly sensitive department,” he asserted.

Political Context

Plenković, recently re‑elected in April as leader of the conservative pro‑European HDZ (Croatian Democratic Union), faced the decision amid a broader crackdown announced by the Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK).

Defence and Response

Health Minister Beroš’s lawyer, Laura Valković, publicly denied any misconduct. The Ministry of Health has yet to issue an official comment on the proceedings.

‘Undue financial gains’

Corruption Probe Targets Croatian Health Procurement

The European Union’s independent public prosecutors office (EPPO) has formally opened a probe into a network of alleged bribery within Croatia’s public health sector. The investigation, announced in July, points to a criminal group that allegedly sought to secure contracts for a medical‑robotics company through systematic bribery of politicians and hospital administrators.

Key Allegations

• Five insiders, cooperating since June 2022, allegedly arranged “undue financial gains” for two firms by promising money to decision‑makers.
• They attempted to keep a specific robotics firm “the only vendor” by manipulating the procurement process, thereby excluding competition and inflating prices for hospitals.
• Bribes were allegedly offered to the Health Minister, directors of two hospitals, and other officials to win EU‑funded and national contracts.
• In a separate case, Andrej Beroš is accused of approving an overpriced microscope purchase in Zagreb hospitals for €620 k in exchange for a kickback.
• EPPO suspects Beroš of receiving bribery, while Croatian prosecutors frame him as having committed “influence peddling” – a lesser offence.

Law Enforcement Stance

State Attorney Ivan Turudić criticised the EPPO for keeping his office and the national corruption authority (USKOK) out of the loop. He said he would determine who is ultimately responsible for the crimes.

Two individuals have been arrested and a legal entity is under investigation on suspicion of accepting a bribe, according to Turudić’s officials.

Possible Outcomes

• Further charges may emerge once the EU prosecutor’s findings are integrated with Croatian investigations.
• The cases underline the ongoing challenge of systemic corruption within the EU’s public procurement framework.