Former deputy minister released from custody

Prague, Oct 24 (CTK) - Former Czech deputy labour minister Vladimir Siska, accused of bribe offering, was released from custody on Tuesday, Prague City Court spokeswoman Martina Lhotakova told CTK Wednesday.

Siska was remanded in custody two weeks ago because he might influence witnesses. He was released now as all the witnesses had already been heard, Lhotakova said.

According to the police, Siska and the Labour Ministry's former IT department head Milan Hojer offered a bid worth at least 100 million crowns to the OKsystem company for withdrawing its complaint with the UOHS antitrust office against the ministry.

OKsystem was to supply information systems for welfare benefits and unemployment section.

Hojer was not taken into custody.

Getting under pressure, Labour Minister Jaromir Drabek (TOP 09) announced that he would leave the cabinet at the end of October.

But Drabek said he believes the case was fabricated, at least to a great extent. According to Drabek, Siska, with whom he cooperated for a long time, is innocent.