The Croatian Prime Minister, Andrej Plenkovic, declared on Friday November 15 that he had dismissed the Minister of Health, Vili Beros, over whom there are serious suspicions of corruption. The head of government affirmed shortly after this announcement that Mr. Beros had been arrested, confirming information from the Croatian press.
“This morning, former minister Vili Beros and two other individuals were arrested as part of an operation led by anti-corruption officials”declared Mr. Plenkovic during a press conference, during which he brought his “unreserved support for the judicial authorities”.
Daily life Morning paper reported that the health minister was arrested on Friday morning by police officers from the Office for Combating Corruption and Organized Crime (Uskok) as part of an investigation into purchases of medical equipment. The newspaper published photos of investigators in Zagreb, in front of Mr. Beros' house, which was searched.
In a statement, Uskok said that “arrests are underway” and that they “concern several people, including a senior state official, suspected of corruption”.
Vili Beros “rejects any criminal responsibility”
The investigation was launched by the European Public Prosecutor's Office, a body set up to combat fraud affecting the European Union's finances, which has the power to investigate and prosecute when such offenses are suspected.
“The European Prosecutor's Office in Zagreb has opened an investigation against eight people, including the Minister of Health and the directors of two hospitals in Zagreb, as well as two companies, suspected of having accepted and paid bribes, abuse of position and money laundering »said the prosecution.
According to this press release published on its website, the facts spread from “June 2022 to November 2024”. The people targeted allegedly caused several hospitals across the country to purchase medical robotic devices at above-market prices, in exchange for bribes. They are also suspected of “illegal taking of interests”. “Mr Beros rejects any criminal responsibility”for her part declared his lawyer, Laura Vakovic, questioned in front of the minister's home shortly before noon.
