Croatian Health Minister Arrested in Corruption Investigation

Vili Beros was dismissed following allegations of bribery and abuse of power in a European Union-led probe.

The European Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating eight individuals, including the health minister and hospital directors, for alleged bribery and money laundering.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic expressed shock at the misuse of authority in the healthcare system and emphasized the government's support for judicial proceedings.
Suspects are accused of manipulating procurement processes to sell medical robotic devices at inflated prices, negatively impacting the Croatian national budget.
The investigation revealed attempts to secure contracts for EU and nationally funded projects through bribery, though some efforts were unsuccessful.
Croatia has a history of systemic corruption, with previous ministers resigning over similar allegations.