(Luxembourg, 24 October 2025) – In an investigation into public contracts for hospital medical supplies, led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Prague (Czechia), a freezing order of €7.9 million has been executed and additional charges were brought against suspects.
Bank accounts, real estate, cash and luxury watches were seized by the Czech police’s National Centre against Organised Crime (Národní centrála proti organizovanému zločinu – NCOZ). Additional charges were also brought against eight of the ten suspects previously accused in February 2024, for other public procurements under investigation. Furthermore, charges were also brought against two new suspects and seven companies.
At issue is a suspected criminal organisation, active since at least 2022, believed to have systematically manipulated public procurement for hospital medical supplies to favour pre-selected suppliers. In some cases, equipment was procured without any formal tender. The equipment included operating tables, laparoscopic and arthroscopic tools, endoscopes, defibrillators, surgical drills and ventilators.
Based on the evidence, preferred suppliers were involved in drafting tender specifications before the tenders were publicly announced, allowing contracts to be tailored in their favour. Confidential information, including competing offers and clarification requests, was also allegedly shared with them – sometimes enabling them to draft responses themselves.
When a preferred supplier won a contract, they allegedly paid a 10% bribe to officials at the contracting authority, via an intermediary, who also acted as the head of the organised criminal group. To conceal the origin of the funds, the group allegedly used fake invoices for non-existent services issued by affiliated companies. The bribes were then distributed in cash among group members by the alleged leader.
The supply of some of the medical equipment for hospitals was co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, under the programme ‘Recovery assistance for cohesion and the territories of Europe’ (REACT-EU).
All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in the competent Czech courts of law.
The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.