Jihlava, South Moravia, Jan 26 (CTK) – State attorney Kamil Spelda filed criminal charges against Alena Vitaskova, chairwoman of the Czech Energy Regulatory Office (ERU), for breach of trust and abuse of power in connection with her naming of Renata Vesecka as ERU deputy head, he told CTK yesterday.
Confirming the information in the Jihlavsky denik daily out yesterday, Spelda said he filed the charges with the District Court in Jihlava, where the ERU has its seat.
Spelda filed the charges based at the request of the anti-corruption police.
Anti-corruption police spokesman Jaroslav Ibehej said earlier this month the paying of Vesecka’s salary caused a damage of over one million crowns to the state.
Vesecka, former supreme state attorney, is no longer in the post.
Vitaskova instated Vesecka in the newly created post of ERU deputy chairperson in 2014.
The police say the step violated the energy law.
“Renata Vesecka failed to meet the law-set condition for the exercise of the post of EU deputy chairperson, which is a practice of seven years at least in the energy sector, including three years in a managerial post,” Ibehej said.
Vitaskova, together with another nine people, also faces charges in a separate case linked to the construction of two solar power plants in Chomutov, north Bohemia, to which the ERU reportedly granted a licence under disputable circumstances.
Vitaskova, tried for power abuse, has dismissed having acted fraudulently.
The Interior Ministry insists that the ERU should fall under the new civil service law and its chairwoman has to take her civil service oath by March 1.
Vitaskova told CTK recently that she would not do so.
If Vitaskova were transferred under the civil service law, she could no longer exercise her post because she has been subject to criminal prosecution.
Vitaskova said she wants to discuss her next steps with President Milos Zeman and representatives of European energy organisations.
The ERU chairperson is appointed and dismissed by the president.
($1=24.980 crowns)
rtj/dr/hol
