Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Friday commented on the case of Nevenka Benic, who was sacked as a state secretary over the rigging of civil service exams and then appointed advisor at the Veterans Ministry, saying she returned from political office to a civil servant's position.

“Nevenka Benic is a civil servant who was appointed as a state secretary, which is a political office. She was relieved of duty as a state secretary. So, from political office she returned to her civil servant’s position, of which (Veterans) Minister Tomo Medved informed the public,” Plenkovic said when asked by the press if he knew that Benic, suspected of corruption, was appointed Medved’s advisor and if Medved was responsible for that.

Asked if he saw anything contentious in Benic’s new position, Plenkovic said she worked and the process would take time. “The woman works, she must live, get a salary.”

The government relieved Benic of duty as a state secretary at the Veterans Ministry on September 24 after the USKOK corruption office launched an investigation due to suspicion that she was involved in the rigging of civil service exams. According to the media, after her sacking, Minister Medved appointed her as the main advisor in his ministry.