The USKOK anti-corruption office on Friday launched an investigation against the mayor of the eastern town of Pozega and former HDZ MP, Darko Puljasic, and his deputy, Mario Pilon, on suspicion of influence peddling and fixing a tender for energy renovation.

The suspects demanded that the CEO of the local company Komunalac, Josip Vitez, grant preferential treatment to specific companies in the public procurement procedure for the preparation of energy certificates and main projects for energy renovation of residential buildings managed by Komunalac.

USKOK said that Vitez had rejected their demand and conducted the public procurement procedure in 2020 according to rules.

On Wednesday, Puljasic was relieved of his duties as the chairman of the Pozega Town Committee of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party and resigned as deputy head of the party’s Pozega-Slavonia County Committee, while Pilon resigned as a member.