Prague, Oct 18 (CTK) – The Prague High Court has cancelled the verdict in the corruption case of former Social Democrat (CSSD) MP, minister and regional governor David Rath, behind closed doors and returned it to the Regional Court for reappraisal, High Court spokesman Jan Fort told CTK on Tuesday.
He said he cannot comment on the reasons for the decision since a written resolution on it had not been worked out yet.
The Regional Court sentenced Rath, CSSD lawmaker (2006-2012), Central Bohemia governor (2008-2012) and health minister (2005-2006), to 8.5 years in prison and the forfeiture of some 20 million crowns for corruption in July 2015.
Rath was found guilty of bribery linked to the manipulated orders worth 16 million crowns. The verdict was based on police wiretappings and a confession by businesswoman Ivana Salacova.
Eleven people were charged in the extensive corruption case.
Along with Rath, Slovak businesswoman Lucia Novanska was given five years in prison and a penalty of 500,000 crowns for organising the manipulated orders.
The court dealt separately with the case of Petr Kott and his wife Katerina Kottova (formerly Pancova) who were each given 7.5 years in prison for plotting corruption and manipulations with contracts.
The trial of Rath lasted two years and he delivered final speech for three days.
Rath pleaded not guilty and appealed the verdict. He calls the trial political, saying the court ruled at variance with evidence. He also argues with the alleged bias of judge Robert Pacovsky who found him guilty.
