Croatia: Defense Ministry confirms role in anti-corruption probe

Croatia's Ministry of Defense (MORH) has confirmed its cooperation with the country's anti-corruption agency, USKOK, in an operation targeting suspected corrupt criminal acts. The ministry stated its support for uncovering all circumstances related to the allegations.

The operation, which involved arrests and evidence gathering across Zagreb, Istria, and Zadar counties, focuses on corrupt activities believed to have occurred between 2018 and 2019. A serving military official is reportedly involved in the investigation.

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The Independent Sector for Military Police Affairs of the Ministry of Defense, in coordination with USKOK and the Police Administrations - Zagreb, Istria, and Zadar – is carrying out arrests and urgent evidentiary actions due to suspicions of corrupt criminal acts from the period 2018 and 2019, in which one active military person is involved.

While the ministry's statement was brief, unofficial reports suggest the investigation centers on Ivica Devčić, a brigadier who headed the MORH's public procurement sector until the end of 2021. He is suspected of manipulating procurement processes.

USKOK announced that it would decide on further actions after questioning the suspects and would inform the public accordingly. The investigation highlights ongoing efforts to combat corruption within state institutions.

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The Ministry supports the determination of all circumstances related to the suspicion of committing corrupt criminal acts.