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Croatian version below
(Luxembourg, 28 September 2023) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Zagreb decided on 27 September 2023, to expand an investigation against two persons suspected of receiving and giving bribes, in relation to the awarding of contracts co-funded by the EU.
In July 2022, the EPPO reported that its Zagreb office had launched an investigation against three Croatian nationals on suspicion of receiving and giving bribes (or similar), in relation to the execution of the Extension and Reconstruction of the Waste Water Treatment Plant Project (WWTP Project) in the Croatian city of Varaždin. All three persons were arrested on 14 July 2022, following investigative activities conducted in cooperation with Croatia’s National Police Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime (PNUSKOK).
In May this year, the investigation was expanded for the first time, as it uncovered grounds to allege that the first and second of the three suspects arranged the favouring of the second suspect’s company in the execution of an EU-funded project, in return for home renovation work that benefited the first suspect.
According to further investigative activity, the second and third suspects made an arrangement, wherein the second suspect would undertake all necessary steps to ensure that the third suspect’s company would receive contracts from the second suspect’s company, in exchange for a payment of 10% of the total amount of the contract to the second suspect.
It is understood that, following this arrangement, the second suspect ensured the awarding of 39 contracts to the third suspect’s company. In total, the second suspect’s company paid the third suspect’s company €681 974 (HRK 5 138 338.71).
According to the evidence, in return, the third suspect paid a portion of the overall agreed payment of €68 197 (HRK 513 833.87) by covering the costs of the second suspect’s private expenses, relating to the construction and furnishing of his real estate. It is also understood that he formally employed – but only on paper – the second suspect’s wife in his company, and paid her a monthly salary and associated contributions at the expense of his company. By doing so, the third suspect paid the second suspect an additional bribe of €40 511(HRK 305 236.25).
Some of the contracts awarded in this manner had been co-financed by the EU’s Cohesion Fund, including the one with the highest value. Additional investigative actions will now be carried out to establish all the circumstances of the investigated offences.
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.
Hrvatska: EPPO dodatno proširuje istragu primanja i davanja mita
(Luksemburg, 28. rujna 2023.) – Ured europskoj javnog tužitelja (EPPO) u Zagrebu donio je rješenje o provođenju i proširenju istrage protiv dviju osoba osumnjičenih za primanje i davanje mita u vezi s namještanjem poslova sufinanciranih EU sredstvima.
U srpnju 2022, EPPO je izvijestio da je njegov ured u Zagrebu pokrenuo istragu protiv trojice hrvatska državljanina zbog sumnje na primanje i davanje mita, vezano za provedbu projekta Dogradnje i rekonstrukcije uređaja za pročišćavanje otpadnih voda (Projekt UPOV) u hrvatskom gradu Varaždinu. Sve tri osobe uhićene su 14. srpnja 2022. godine nakon istražnih radnji provedenih u suradnji s Policijskim nacionalnim uredom za suzbijanje korupcije i organiziranog kriminaliteta (PNUSKOK).
U svibnju ove godine, istraga je proširena po prvi puta, jer je istragom utvrđena osnovana sumnja da su prvi i drugi od trojice osumnjičenika dogovarali pogodovanje društvu drugoosumnjičenoga u provedbi projekta financiranog sredstvima EU u zamjenu za radove na obnovi kuće u korist prvoosumnjičenika.
Kako je utvrđeno daljnjim istražnim radnjama, drugoosumnjičeni i trećeosumnjičeni su dogovorili da će drugoosumnjičeni poduzeti sve potrebne radnje kako bi trgovačko društvo trećeosumnjičenoga dobilo poslove od trgovačkog društva u kojem je drugoosumnjičeni bio direktor, u zamjenu za isplatu 10% ukupne vrijednosti ugovora drugoosumnjičenome.
Utvrđeno je da je slijedom ovoga dogovora drugoosumnjičeni osigurao dodjelu 39 ugovora društvu trećeosumnjičenoga. Ukupno je društvo u kojem je drugoosumnjičeni bio direktor isplatilo društvu trećeosumnjičenoga 681.974 eura (5.138.338,71 kuna).
Prikupljeni dokazi ukazuju da je trećeosumnjičeni zauzvrat isplatio dio ukupno dogovorenog iznosa od 68.197 eura (513.833,87 kuna) namirujući privatne troškove drugoosumnjičenoga, koji se odnose na izgradnju i opremanje njegove nekretnine. Također se pokazalo da je on u svom trgovačkom društvu formalno zaposlio – ali samo na papiru – suprugu drugoosumnjičenoga, te da joj je on isplaćivao mjesečnu plaću i pripadajuće doprinose na teret svoga društva. Time je trećeosumnjičeni drugoosumnjičenome ukupno platio mito od 40.511 eura (305.236,25 kuna).
Neki od tako dodijeljenih ugovora bili su sufinancirani iz Kohezijskog fonda EU, uključujući i onaj najveće vrijednosti. U nastavku istrage provest će se dodatne istražne radnje radi utvrđivanja svih okolnosti kaznenih djela obuhvaćenih istragom.