The national police chief Oliver Grbic said on Wednesday that four people had been arrested on suspicion of their involvement in malfeasance, abuse of power and embezzlement of HRK 26 million from the state-owned motorways operator (HAC).
Grbic said the investigation was within the remit of USKOK (Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime) which was why he could not reveal the names of the arrested suspects.
A crime investigation has covered the business cooperation between the Fimi Media and the HAC and with the Autoceste Rijeka Zagreb motorway operator, on the basis of suspicion that abuse of office and embezzlement of nearly HRK 26 million were committed, he said.
According to the police chief, the four suspects will be questioned in the Office of the Chief State Prosecutor later on Wednesday.
Police entered the premises of HAC on Wednesday morning to investigate alleged illegal business dealings, spokesman for the Interior Ministry Kurnoslav Borovec said on Wednesday.
He said the operation was launched together by the police and the anti-corruption investigating agency USKOK, adding that this was why he was unable to reveal other details of the investigation or if anyone had been arrested yet.
According to unofficial information, the arrestees are Josip Sapunar, the company's manager in charge of finance, two former CEOs, Mario Crnjak and Jurica Prskalo, and former director of the Autoceste Rijeka Zagreb, Zlatko Korpar.
According to unofficial information, police are investigating irregularities connected with the scandal involving the private Fimi Media company. Fimi Media, owned by Nevenka Jurak who was arrested in August, is believed to have helped withdraw several dozen million kuna from state-owned companies and ministries.
Also arrested in connection with the Fimi Media scandal was a former customs administration chief and Croatian Democratic Union treasurer, Mladen Barisic.
Jurak and Barisic presented their defence to USKOK last week.
