Court: Rath cannot be released from custody on bail

Prague, Sept 11 (CTK) - Czech deputy and former Social Democrat (CSSD) Central Bohemia regional governor David Rath, charged with corruption, cannot be released from custody on bail, the Prague Regional Court ruled Tuesday, its spokeswoman Zuzana Steinerova has told CTK.

The appeals court met the state attorney's complaint and abolished the previous decision by a district court that set a 14-million-crown bail for Rath's release from custody.

Neither the state attorney nor Rath agreed with the district court's verdict from August.

Rath filed a complaint against the level of the bail which seemed to him too high.

The state attorney complained against any bail in general in Rath's case saying Rath should stay in custody over the fears that he might escape and continue his criminal activities.

"We have not received the court's decision yet, so I will not comment on it," Adam Cerny, one of Rath's defence lawyers, told CTK.

The case will return to the district court that will decide on Rath's request anew but this time it will have the possibility to set a bail for his release from custody.

Originally, Rath's girlfriend Renata Horka, mother of one of his sons, along with his father offered a bail for his release. They wanted to pay half a million crowns each.

However, they withdrew their offer after the district court's verdict.

Rath was caught red-handed with seven million crowns, a suspected bribe, in May, and accused of corruption linked to the planned reconstruction of the Bustehrad chateau, central Bohemia. The Chamber of Deputies stripped him of deputy's immunity and he was remanded in custody.

Last week, the Chamber of Deputies released Rath for prosecution on suspicion of other bribes connected with purchases of hospital equipment.

Another ten people are prosecuted along with him over suspected manipulation of Central Bohemia's public orders. Five of them remain in custody, including former deputy Petr Kott and Kladno hospital director Katerina Pancova.

They all have asked the court for release from custody.

The district court started dealing with their requests last week. It decided that two of the prosecuted persons could be released from custody. Pancova's request was rejected and the court did not admit her release on bail either.

The appeals court is to deal with all the cases on the basis of complaints they have filed.