Prague, Jan 17 (CTK) – A different state attorney than Petr Jirat will deal with the appeals proceedings of former regional governor David Rath who has been sentenced for corruption, Prague High State Attorney Lenka Bradacova told public Czech Television (CT) yesterday.
She said Jirat might be considered biased because Rath filed a civilian complaint against him.
The new attorney will specialise in economic crime, Bradacova said. She did not release the name, however.
Bradacova said she considered Rath’s complaint against Jirat an obstruction.
Rath sued Jirat over an interview in which the attorney told the press that he believes that Rath hid hundreds of millions of crowns that have not been revealed so far.
The new attorney will need time to get well acquainted with the case, Bradacova told CT.
Rath was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison and the forfeiture of some 20 million crowns for corruption connected with public orders. He pleaded not guilty and appealed the verdict.
Rath was a Social Democrat (CSSD) lawmaker (2006-2012), the Central Bohemia governor (2008-2012) and health minister (2005-2006). He has been charged with bribery linked to the planned reconstruction of a chateau and the purchase of hospital equipment in the Central Bohemia Region. He was caught red-handed with seven million crowns, a suspected bribe, in a wine box in May 2012 and arrested.
($1=24.756 crowns)
