Minister Beroš Arrested in Corruption Probe

The news in Croatian

1. uhititi
   privesti nekoga zbog sumnje u počinjenje kaznenog djela ↩︎
2. korupcija (f.)
   nepošteno ili kriminalno ponašanje od strane onih na vlasti, često u obliku podmićivanja ↩︎
3. optužiti
   formalno teretiti nekoga za kazneno djelo ↩︎
4. manipulacija (f.)
   kontrola ili utjecaj na ljude ili situacije na lukav ili nepošten način ↩︎
5. nabava (f.)
   proces kupovine ili dobivanja robe i usluga ↩︎
6. istraga (f.)
   proces traženja činjenica ili informacija o nekom događaju, često zločina ↩︎

Translation

Text Comprehension

Question: Why was Minister Vili Beroš arrested?

Question: Who is the temporary minister of health after Vili Beroš was removed?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
uhititi	arrest
korupcija (f.)	corruption
optužiti	accuse
manipulacija (f.)	manipulation
nabava (f.)	procurement
istraga (f.)	investigation

Read the full story

The investigation, spearheaded by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), has implicated Beroš and several others in a suspected scheme to manipulate procurement processes for medical equipment, including costly robotic surgical devices. These devices were allegedly purchased at inflated prices, resulting in significant financial gains for those involved. Besides Beroš, notable figures such as neuro-surgeon Krešimir Rotim and businessman Saša Pozder have also been implicated.

The arrest has highlighted serious concerns about potential corruption within the Croatian healthcare system, with claims that public funds were misused for personal enrichment. The Uskočko (anti-corruption bureau) is conducting concurrent investigations and made several arrests related to these charges.

Minister Beroš is accused of playing a central role in the alleged criminal organization, with reports suggesting he received bribes to facilitate these deals. His defense attorney, Laura Valković, has stated that Beroš denies all charges.

Prime Minister Plenković reacted swiftly to the scandal by removing Beroš from his cabinet, appointing Irena Hrstić as the interim head of the Ministry of Health. Plenković expressed his dismay over the situation, emphasizing the government’s commitment to fighting corruption.

The arrest has prompted a widespread call for transparency and reforms within Croatia’s public administration, especially in sectors linked to public trust, such as healthcare. The Croatian Medical Chamber and the Croatian Hospital Doctors’ Association (HUBOL) have both voiced zero tolerance for corruption, urging for immediate resignations of any officials found guilty of compromising the integrity of the healthcare system.

As investigations continue, the focus will remain on how this high-profile case unfolds and what this might mean for the integrity and functionality of Croatian public institutions.

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