Real Estate Czech Republic

The case produced heated disputes on the Czech political scene.

A report submitted by senior police officer Jan Kubice shortly before the elections last year pointed to the biofuel case as an example of then ruling Social Democrat (CSSD) politicians influencing the investigation of serious crimes.

The Kubice report and subsequently the biofuel case became a point of controversy between the two big parties, the rightist Civic Democrats (ODS) of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek and the opposition Social Democrats.

The biofuel case was also one of the reasons why Vladislav Husak, appointed by the former CSSD-dominated government, had to resign as Czech police chief earlier this year.

Former Social Democrat Frantisek Vybiral, a lobbyist from Olomouc, north Moravia, is believed to be the main protagonist in the biofuel case.

According to the police, businessmen who were interested in the state orders for biofuel production bribed civil servants. A 15-million-crown bribe was handed over in autumn 2005, which the police documented.

Six people were accused in March 2006 within the case, including two senior officials of the Transport Ministry and former CSSD members, Josef Laznicka and Ludmila Schwarzova. Both officials had to leave their posts and the party.

The other accused were representatives of the Bioferm company and a lobbyist.

($1=20.948 crowns)

Trackback URI | Comments RSS