Police finds no corruption at meeting between PM, ex-police chief

Prague, Feb 21 (CTK) - The Czech police inspection has closed the investigation into a meeting between Prime Minister Petr Necas (Civic Democrats, ODS) and former police chief Oldrich Martinu in December, concluding that no crime was committed, the inspection's spokeswoman Radka Sandorova told CTK yesterday.

"The investigation did not prove criminal liability of any concrete person," Sandorova said.

The investigation was initiated by Interior Minister Radek John (Public Affairs, VV).

He said the meeting was not standard and Martinu could thereby leak sensitive data from the investigation into the alleged corruption at the State Environmental Fund (SFZP).

This was not proved, however.

Necas said he considered it natural that he met representatives of security forces. Martinu said previously he had not even known the police file on the SFZP case.

ODS deputy chairman Pavel Drobil resigned as environment minister over the case before Christmas. One of Drobil's aides is suspected of trying to manipulate public orders and gain money for the ODS and Drobil's career in this way.

The Interior Ministry received the police inspection's results last Friday.

The ministry's spokesman Pavel Novak said no crime was committed as no law or directive defined information exchange between the interior minister and the police president, and between the police president and the prime minister.

Martinu left the post at the end of last year after John repeatedly criticised him and called on him to resign.