A former Croatian MP and his son are accused of selling more than a million fake COVID-19 tests
Coronavirus tests – COVID-19, Photo: Profimedia Images /Ed Jones/AFP
Two men have been charged in Croatia, suspected of having sold more than one million counterfeit COVID-19 tests in several European countries, the prosecutor's office announced on Wednesday, reports AFP, according to Agerpres.
According to media reports, the two are a former member of Parliament and his 26-year-old son.
The two men allegedly had about 1.3 million counterfeit tests produced at a factory in Istanbul (Turkey) and imported into Croatia, according to a statement from the prosecutor's office.
They resold these tests to other companies and public institutions in Croatia, as well as in Greece, Romania, Austria, Spain and Germany, the prosecutor's office said.
Accused of “counterfeiting medicines or medical products”, they are suspected of having earned almost 450,000 euros in this way. The son is also accused of money laundering.
The prosecutor's office did not reveal their identities, but numerous local media outlets claim that it is Andjelko Mihalic, former member of Parliament (2008-2011) from the ruling party (HDZ, conservatives), and his son, Filip, nicknamed by the media “Copilul Corona”.
The two men were briefly arrested in January as part of the investigation into the case.
