Prague, Dec 7 (CTK) – The Czech government approved the appointment of Michal Murin, the current deputy chief of the General Inspection of Security Corps (GIBS), as its new head yesterday and Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said he would appoint him within a few days.
On Friday, Sobotka introduced Murin to members of the Chamber of Deputies security committee who unanimously supported Murin´s appointment.
Murin, 53, will replace Ivan Bilek, who resigned at the end of November.
Bilek, who headed the GIBS from 2012, resigned in reaction to the criticism over the case of suspected abuse of power by regional police officers and their links with local entrepreneurs and politicians in the Olomouc Region, north Moravia.
Sobotka said Murin was an experienced police officer with the relevant managerial skills “who must ensure the impartiality, independence and professional character of the GIBS.”
“His main task will be to stabilise the inspection and make its reputation good again,” Sobotka said.
Sobotka did not approve Bilek´s planned organisational structure of the GIBS so that Murin can influence the reorganisation. The new structure should enable the checking of all procedures.
In the past, Murin was primarily in charge of investigation into serious crime.
The GIBS’s task is to investigate crimes committed by police as well as customs officers, prison guards and GIBS inspectors themselves.
Under law, the GIBS director is appointed and dismissed by the prime minister on the proposal of the cabinet, after the proposal is discussed by the lower house’s security committee. He is accountable to the prime minister.
Colonel Murin has occupied the post of the GIBS deputy head for penal proceedings since last June. Previously, he worked mainly in Central Bohemia as the general crime section head at the Central Bohemia Regional Police Authority and as a municipal police chief.
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