07/07/2026 (Agence Europe) – The Zagreb County Court (Croatia), on Tuesday 7 July, rendered a verdict in a corruption and misuse of European funds case investigated by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO). Ten defendants who pleaded guilty were convicted of aiding and abetting abuse of office, money laundering, abuse of public procurement procedures and forgery of documents. According to an EPPO press release, three received prison sentences ranging from five to 11 months, converted into community service, and two of them were also ordered to pay fines of €20,000 and €70,000 respectively. The other seven received suspended prison sentences. The case concerns estimated damage of €2.8 million, including €1.2 million to the European Union budget. The proceedings against 19 other defendants, including a former deputy culture minister, a former dean and a former professor, are ongoing. (NP)