Former intelligence chief charged over personal data leak

Prague, March 21 (CTK) - A district state attorney's office has charged former Czech counter-intelligence service chief Karel Randak, member of the Anti-Corruption Endowment board, over the release of the bonuses paid to PM Petr Necas's office head Jana Nagyova, state attorney Sarka Pokorna told CTK Thursday.

If found guilty, Randak faces up to five years in prison.

"Charges have been brought on suspicion of unauthorised handling personal data," Pokorna said.

Randak faces a higher prison sentence since he allegedly disclosed the information on Nagyova via media.

The police started prosecuting Randak at the end of October, 2012, on suspicion of unauthorised handling personal data he had allegedly committed in collaboration with a woman from the Government Office.

The state attorney's office has brought charges against two persons, Pokorna said without elaborating.

Randak previously said he considered the accusation expedient.

Last year, he connected it with his intention to run for president.

Daily Mlada fronta Dnes reported that the other accused in the case was Lenka Pikorova, former employee of the Government Office. She allegedly gained Nagyova's payroll and passed it on to Randak.

The information on Nagyova's income level leaked at the beginning of last year year.

According to the media, Nagyova has the basic gross salary of about 30,000 crowns a month. However, thanks to various bonuses and contributions, the real sum is several times higher.

In March 2012 alone, Nagyova had 273,000 crowns gross pay, which meant some 190,000 crowns of net salary.

Necas, leader of the senior government Civic Democrats (ODS), called the publication of the bonuses for Nagyova a political attack. He said the media had "crossed the Rubicon" by publishing the stolen personal documents.

Another 20 employees of the Government Office reportedly received similar bonuses.