Finnish officials made the statement on Monday, after which the Croatian Ministry of the Interior confirmed that a criminal inquiry was under way. "The police are conducting a criminal inquiry in coordination with the USKOK (Office for the Prevention of Corruption and Organised Crime) in connection with alleged irregularities in a purchase of armoured vehicles for the Ministry of Defence," the Ministry of the Interior said in a statement. It did not reveal any other details, citing the Criminal Procedure Act.
The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation said that the police suspect that money was given to state officials and decision-makers in 2007, when Patria sold Croatia 84 armoured vehicles for 112 million euros, Serbian news agency Beta reported. Finnish chief investigator Kaj Bjorkqvist would not discuss details because Patria's business dealings in Croatia and Slovenia are still being investigated, according to Austrian news agency APA. Bjorkqvist, however, confirmed that the National Bureau of Investigation had opened an investigation into suspected corruption in Croatia after Patria allegedly bribed politicians in Slovenia in 2006 in concluding a deal worth 280 million euros. He added that more details would be available after the investigation, according to Beta. Patria allegedly paid 8.1 million euros in bribes to Slovenian officials for the sale of 135 Finnish tanks, worth 278 million euros, to the Slovenian military. APA said that some of the people suspected of bribery in the Slovenia case might also be suspected of the same crime in the Croatia case.
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