Croatian Defense Minister: Ministry acted on military boot procurement issues last year

Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anušić asserted that the Ministry of Defense (MORH) acted preemptively in a case involving the procurement of military boots, stating that "we have already taken our steps on time." He indicated that the judiciary is now handling its part of the investigation.

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We have already taken our steps on time. Now the judiciary has done what it was supposed to do. This is going in the direction that the legal framework will provide further direction. We have finished our part.

Anušić confirmed that the ministry had previously taken measures against the company Design Vision, which is reportedly at the center of the investigation. Specifically, the MORH banned the company from participating in any future tenders due to suspicions of falsified references. "I want to emphasize, which is very important to know, that last year, by decision of the MORH, and also by my decision, the company that is in question for falsifying its references was banned from participating in tenders issued by the MORH," Anušić stated.

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I want to emphasize, which is very important to know, that last year, by decision of the MORH, and also by my decision, the company that is in question for falsifying its references was banned from participating in tenders issued by the MORH.

The minister suggested that the current arrests, linked to the investigation by the Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organized Crime (USKOK), are a direct consequence of the ministry's prior actions. "Now the judiciary has done what it was supposed to do. This is going in the direction that the legal framework will provide further direction. We have finished our part," he explained, adding that the current developments are a "logical sequence" of events from a year ago.

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We have already taken our steps on time. Now the judiciary has done what it was supposed to do. This is going in the direction that the legal framework will provide further direction. We have finished our part.

USKOK is investigating suspicions that the former head of procurement at MORH, Ivica Devčić, allegedly favored Alma Boch, the owner of Design Vision, in the acquisition of military equipment. Unofficial reports suggest Devčić may have split procurement processes into smaller procedures between 2017 and 2018 to avoid more complex tenders, with Design Vision subsequently winning contracts for boots and other equipment. Devčić had previously been removed from his leadership position in procurement but remained employed by the Ministry of Defense.

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In this case, we reacted in time and moved all these things away from ourselves last year. Now this is simply a logical sequence of what happened a year ago.