Court acquits ex-minister's adviser of corruption charges

Prague, Aug 28 (CTK) - A Prague district court acquitted Martin Knetig, former adviser of former Czech environment minister Pavel Drobil (senior ruling Civic Democrats, ODS), of corruption charges Tuesday.

The state attorney appealed the verdict on the spot, so the Prague City Court will deal with the case.

Knetig was charged with indirect bribery in connection with placing public procurement at the State Environmental Fund (SFZP). If found guilty, he would face up to three years in prison.

According to the charges, Knetig demanded a bribe from a bank employee during the decision-making process on the depositing of the SFZP's money in banks in 2010.

Knetig was allegedly trying to gain money for the ODS.

According to the police, Knetig offered a member of the Komercni banka (KB) bank board the possibility of sponsoring the ODS in October 2010 in exchange for depositing money from the SFZP in the bank's account.

Secret recordings by former SFZP head Libor Michalek have revealed that Knetig was pressing on Michalek to entrust a one-billion-crown order for the selection of the bank to a certain financial adviser.

In the recordings, Knetig was describing how to get money to fund Drobil's further career and the ODS.

Michalek told Drobil about his suspicion and recordings in December 2010. Drobil allegedly asked him to destroy the recordings and he offered him the post of his deputy in exchange.

Drobil was forced to leave the post of environment minister over the corruption scandal in December 2010 but he has remained ODS deputy chairman.