Croatian Parliament sacks head of state broadcaster after arrest in graft probe

NEWS 07.07.202122:30
Igor Kralj/PIXSELL

The Croatian Parliament's Media Committee unanimously decided on Wednesday to relieve Kazimir Bacic of his duties as Director-General of the state broadcaster HRT after he had been arrested on suspicion of corruption.

The proposal will be forwarded to Parliament to decide on it at a plenary session, state agency Hina reported.

USKOK corruption investigators suspect that Bacic, acting on behalf of businessman Milan Loncaric, took €50,000 in a bribe to the late Zagreb mayor Milan Bandic for the Gardens of Light project, Hina reported.

Hina did not explain what the project was.

As a reward for his role Bacic is believed to have been given an apartment worth 1 million kuna (€133,300) in central Zagreb.

The HRT Management Board said last week that Bacic’s deputy, Director of Programming Renato Kunic, had assumed the duties of Director-General.

Bacic was appointed HRT Director-General by Parliament on 17 February 2017 by 90 votes in favour, 12 abstentions and no votes against. He had previously served as Head of Technical Services at the HRT.