ČSSD may file complaint against Dalík's corruption allegation

Prague, Oct 10 (CTK) - The Czech opposition Social Democrats (CSSD) will file a slander complaint about lobbyist Marek Dalik if it proves he spoke about corruption in the CSSD in connection with the purchase of armoured personnel carriers (APCs) for the military, CSSD deputy head Lubomir Zaoralek said Wednesday.

Server Insider wrote on Tuesday that Dalik said the funding of political parties is behind the case in his first police questioning.

Dalik said corruption must he sought in the CSSD when its former head Stanislav Gross was prime minister (2004-05).

The police detained Dalik, Topolanek's close aide, on Sunday on suspicion of an attempted fraud. Dalik allegedly asked for a bribe in the negotiations on the Pandurs purchase. The police say he promised aid in the negotiations without having been able to influence anything.

Dalik faces ten years in prison if found guilty.

Zaoralek said the CSSD does not have clear evidence of that Dalik really spoke about corruption in the CSSD and the party must first verify the information.

"But if it were true, then we would file a criminal complaint about slander," Zaoralek sadi.

He said the CSSD did not have any opportunity to influence the parameteres of the public order during its rule.

On the contrary, he pointed to alleged discrepancies during the tenure of Mirek Topolanek's (Civic Democrats, ODS) government in 2006-09.

The Pandurs contract contained the possibility of withdrawing from the contract if problems emerged, but the government did not do this and instead decided to hold further negotiations on the level of prime minister in which also Dalik played a role, Zaoralek said.

This created "an entirely non-transparent situation," Zaoralek said and added that this smacks of problems and corruption.

The Social Democrats dismissed any linking of their party and finances with the case on Tuesday already.

"Police bodies did not contact the CSSD at all in connection with the case in the past two years over which it has been investigated," party chairman Bohuslav Sobotka said in a statement.

The state attorney wanted Dalik to be taken into custody saying Dalik might flee and influence witnesses, but the respective judge released him Wednesday.

The court did not strip Dalik of his passport even though he himself offered it.

The decision to buy 107 Pandurs for 14.4 billion crowns was made by Topolanek's government in the spring of 2009 and the contract with Austrian firm Steyr was signed shortly afterwards.

A Czech-Austrian police team started to take interest in the contract more than one year later.

In May 2011 media released the testimony of Austrian manager Stephan Szuecs who was a secret witness in Austria. He allegedly testified that Dalik asked for a bribe of about half a billion crowns.

Dalik has dismissed this as "utter nonsense."