PHOTO: Croatia Presents Anti-Corruption Judges

As part of the anti-corruption strategy, Justice Minister presented the USKOK judges who underwent rigorous security checks.

ZAGREB, CROATIA – Croatian Justice Minister Ivan Simonovic presented the details about the USKOK (Office for the Prevention of Corruption and Organised Crime) vertical, which includes judges and the police. They will try to put an end to corruption.

- Today, USKOK departments have started working at four county courts: in Osijek, Split, Rijeka and Zagreb. There are 61 judges, specialised attorneys and police officers of the National Office for the Prevention of Corruption and Organised Crime in the USKOK vertical. They have all passed rigorous security checks – Minister Simonovic said.

Zagreb will include 23 USKOK judges and a president of the department; Split will have 14 judges and a president; Rijeka will have 11 judges and a president, while Osijek will include 9 judges and a president.

Ratko Scekic was named president of the Zagreb USKOK department, with Kresimir Devcic as his deputy.

The minister pointed out that the USKOK judges would contribute to the speed of solving cases, because they would not leave them until they are solved. It will take them just a week to schedule the first hearing.

However, the president of the Supreme Court Branko Hrvatin pointed out that there is a realistic option for some processes to be postponed, because there are many defendants in 516 cases currently before the judges. Thus, there are 73 cases in Zagreb with 516 defendants, while Osijek has 26 defendants in three cases.

The judges were chosen by presidents of county courts for a four-year period, according to their credit and success. Two million kuna was singled out for the USKOK vertical (approximately 270,270 euros).

- All the judges are aware of the danger they are exposed to, but they are prepared to do the work in its entirety – Croatian Justice Minister Ivan Simonovic said.

Take a look at the attached photo gallery: USKOK Anti-Corruption Judges Presented.