Following the arrest of the Croatian public broadcaster's (HRT) director Kazimir Bacic, the incumbent programming director Renato Kunic will take over Bacic's duties while the HRT's Supervisory Board and the parliament decide on Bacic's status.

Bacic was arrested on Wednesday in a sweeping operation by the Croatian anti-corruption office USKOK, after which his apartments and office were searched. He was questioned by USKOK and an investigation has been launched against him for possible influence peddling.

HRT said that Kunic had been appointed HRT Deputy Director in March 2017 in line with a decision by the HRT Director-General, and that his taking over Bacic’s duties will “ensure undisturbed and continual programming and business activities.”

“That also means that all payments to employees and business activities will be conducted as usual,” HRT said.

HRT added that any further decisions related to Bacic’s status are “in the hands of the HRT Supervisory Board and the parliamentary Committee on Information, Computerisation, and the Media.”

Without revealing his identity, USKOK said on Thursday that an investigation had been launched against Bacic over suspicion that he received a bribe in the form of an apartment worth more than 1 million kuna in exchange for helping Milan Loncaric, former owner of the Tvornica Elektricnih Zarulja light bulb company, obtain the necessary permits to build a building in the Zagreb Sigecica neighbourhood. USKOK also requested Bacic be remanded in custody.