Kysice, Central Bohemia, Oct 2 (CTK) – A satirical memorial plaque mocking the former influential Social Democrat (CSSD) politician David Rath, who was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison for corruption, has appeared on a cycling path near Valdek, central Bohemia, some media have reported.
In July, the Regional Court in Prague found former regional governor, MP and ex-health minister Rath guilty of taking bribes of 16 million crowns at least for manipulating public orders, often subsidised from EU funds, in the Central Bohemia Region that he headed. He appealed the verdict, so a higher level court will deal with the case.
The new memorial features a rhymed ironic text making fun of Rath’s corruption case and his alleged bicycle accident that occurred exactly on the path where it was built. The plaque also includes a note saying it was funded without any subsidies from the EU and the Central Bohemia Region.
Rath claimed in April that he had fell off a bicycle causing health troubles that prevented him from attending the trial for a few days. He allegedly only abused the incident to delay the court proceedings.
The mocking plaque was created by anonymous authors.
Josef Skacha, mayor of the nearby Kysice village, said someone had placed the table on the path without informing the municipal authority about it beforehand.
“I do not know on whose plot it is installed, but it is definitely within the bounds of the Kysice village… I suppose that it will amuse most people and the village does not intend to interfere,” Skacha told CTK.
Rath told the iDnes.cz new server that he knew nothing about the memorial.
“It is positive if it helps increase the tourists’ interest in this cycling path. I am riding along it frequently,” he said.
