ČT: State attorney wanted custody for Dalík

Prague, Oct 26 (CTK) - The Prague state attorney's office wanted lobbyist Marek Dalik to be taken into custod out of fear that he will sell his collection of surrealistic pictures by Czech painter Mikulas Medek worth almost 80 million crowns, Czech Television (CT) said Friday.

CT said the state attorney was afraid that Dalik would want to leave the country.

The court did not comply with the proposal, however, and released Dalik after a few days in October.

CT said Dalik sold the collection and other property in summer anyway.

Dalik, 37, is prosecuted on suspicion of a fraud connected to an order for Pandur armoured personnel carriers (APCs) for the Czech military.

Dalik allegedly asked for a bribe during negotiations about the order placed with the Austrian Steyr armament maker.

He faces up to ten years in prison if found guilty.

Dalik is a friend of former prime minister Mirek Topolanek (Civic Democrats, ODS) and he was his unofficial adviser.

($1=19.167 crowns)