Three HEP Members Arrested For Bribery

HEP inspectors demanded 26,000 kuna from a hair salon owner so as not to report her for an illegal electricity port.

Three Croatian Electric Power Industry (HEP) inspectors were arrested for suspicion of demanding 26,000 kuna from a Zagreb hairdresser, and received 2,000 euro. Inspectors of the financial Crime Department in collaboration with the Office for the Prevention of Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK), as the Vjesnik daily writes, arrested Josip M., Mladen K. and Tihomir V.

Mladen K. and Josip M. are charged with asking for a bribe from the owner of a hair-salon Lee B, in whose salon they discovered irregularities regarding the use of electric energy ports. They demanded the money in turn for not to filing an official report on the matter and switching off the power in the salon.

Tihomir V. is charged with aiding his colleagues. On Thursday he took 2,000 euros from the salon owner after which he was arrested.

All three were escorted to court on Thursday night, while USKOK filed an official request for their custody on Friday because of danger of influence over the owner.

The fine for an illegal electric power port is 100,000 kuna.