Prague, April 27 (CTK) – The firm Lukoil Aviation Czech, whose executive was President Milos Zeman’s adviser Martin Nejedly, must pay a 27.7-million-crown fine plus interest to the Administration of State Material Reserves, the appeals Prague Municipal Court ruled yesterday.
The verdict has taken effect.
Zeman and Nejedly talked about the issue this afternoon.
Nejedly told CTK that he respected the verdict and that he would pay the demanded sum once he receives the verdict.
Nejedly told the Prazsky denik news server that Zeman was fully satisfied with the fact that the whole debt would be paid.
Zeman’s spokesman Jiri Ovcacek told public Czech Radio (CRo) that he believes Nejedly will remain among Zeman’s advisers. Zeman will announce his decision soon, Ovcacek added.
The appeals court increased the original fine set by a lower-level court by 257,000 crowns.
Lukoil Aviation, which is part of the Russian oil company Lukoil, and the state office were in dispute about a contract on new reserves of kerosene jet fuel.
The dispute erupted in 2009 when the Administration of State Material Reserves signed a contract with Lukoil Aviation on the new kerosene reserves. The firm took up kerosene for 275.6 million crowns, but it returned only a less than a half.
This is why the Administration of State Material Reserves imposed a fine on Lukoil, which it refused to pay, arguing that it is barred by the statute of limitation.
It pointed out that no damage has been caused to the state office and consequently the fine was not proportionate.
“It is true that none of the parties has suffered damage. However, the commitment was agreed on this way… and it should have been observed,” Tomas Mottl, chairman of the Prague Municipal Court panel, said.
The firm entered into liquidation after last year’s verdict.
Its liquidator announced to the Administration of State Material Reserves then that he did not recognise its claim.
Nejedly is deputy chairman of the Party of Citizens Rights (SPO) that used to bear Zeman’s name in the past.
($1=23.946 crowns)
