Zagreb, November 15 (IANS): Croatia’s Health Minister Vili Beros was arrested on Friday as part of an operation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) on suspicion of bribery, abuse of authority and money laundering.

According to the EPPO’s statement, Beros, together with directors of two hospitals, manipulated public procurement processes from June 2022 to November 2024.

They allegedly accepted bribes to secure inflated contracts and funding for medical robotic equipment and operating microscopes, favoring specific companies, Xinhua news agency reported.

In response to the arrest, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic quickly fired Beros and appointed Foreign Minister Irena Hristic to oversee the Ministry of Health until a new minister is chosen.