The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Zagreb initiated an investigation against two Croatian citizens, suspected of giving and receiving bribes for trading in influence.
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According to the results of the preliminary investigation, conducted in cooperation with the Croatian National Police Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime (PNUSKOK), the two suspects entered into an arrangement of bribery and trading in influence.
Within this arrangement, the second suspect used his influence and connections in certain companies and financial institutions to ensure, for the first suspect the founder and owner of a company all the necessary assistance with relevant business entities and institutions, in terms of the first suspect’s company’s business activities and achievement of business goals.
In return, the first suspect agreed to pay him a certain amount of money.
It is understood that, when the first suspect led a community of bidders in applying for the public procedure for the ‘Design and Implementation of Remediation Works on the Sovjak Pit’, which had a total value of over €44 million (incl. VAT) 85% of which was co financed by the EU’s Cohesion Fund the second suspect ensured that the first suspect could continue his business activities, and provided help with issues arising during the project implementation phase.
There is also a suspicion that the first suspect asked the second suspect to ensure that the first suspect’s company would obtain approval of requested guarantees framework from a bank, as the first suspect needed to ensure that his business activities related to other contracts could continue.
According to the evidence, as a reward for this arrangement, the first suspect made three separate payments to the second suspect, for a total amount of over €130 000.
Upon the request of the EPPO, the County Court in Zagreb issued a temporary freezing order against the second suspect, to ensure the seizure of the allegedly illicit gain. ■
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